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Lessons we can’t forget: Community members look back at 2020 to set goals for 2021 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 4, 2021
Jamila Dawn Mitchell, Andrea Rodriguez and Malik Pitchford.
First of two parts
We finally made it to 2021.
But that doesn’t mean it’s a blank slate.
Although there’s plenty we’d likely rather forget, 2020 offered many valuable lessons.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
So we asked community members to reflect on the past year and their intentions for the year ahead.
Jamila Dawn Mitchell is a trans woman of color who’s been an activist, author and organizer for over a decade. She’s started nonprofits to service the mentally ill and has made a career as a health care systems administrator.
My greatest lesson this year is that there is plenty of work to do at home.
Pre-COVID-19, I was hardly ever home. I worked eight hours for my full-time job, then spent another unmeasured amount of time on extracurricular work, socializing with friends and trying new restaurants. Honestly, I only went home to sleep.
Then, the stay-at-home happened.
I realized how much I neglected my home and myself. I began with sanitizing everything, which turned into a complete deep cleaning of my home and my own self.
I discovered time to organize my furniture, to cook home meals from scratch and to enjoy the aroma of candles after a productive day at home. Cleanliness suddenly enabled me to be mindful of the details of the present.
Due to my mental illness and lifestyle, I struggled with mindfulness. For years, I’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. Instead of coping, I found every reason to be too busy to focus on my internal well-being. Like the disarray of my home, my mental health had been neglected.
Honestly, I would not have believed that time cleaning my home would be when I’d begin healing from past trauma. The calmness and stability of my home had become the place where I’ve both taken care of myself and learned to love myself. I have created a schedule to wake up, clean, journal, read, cook and meditate to create internal joy.
My work turned inward with guidance set by my supportive psychologist that I see once a month and my therapist who is basically a fixture of my day. 2020 has taught me how to excel in taking better care of myself to resolve things like bad sleep and anxiety.
Thus, I am bringing this “self-work” into 2021. 2020 has forced me to pay attention to all the ways that trauma was driving me. For years, I neglected myself to receive recognition from others due to work achievements and social entertainment.
The “homework” that I began in 2020 has become a blueprint for self-improvement and trauma healing.
Certainly, through social media, I have learned that I’m not living through trauma alone. Thus, my goal for 2021 is to not only continue my homework, but also to teach others that have faced trauma how to use our time alone to heal.
2021 will be the year I show others how healing is possible.
Andrea Rodriguez is an educator, community organizer, civic engagement manager for Los Brown Berets of Milwaukee and owner of Thrive Service Learning.
I actually don’t want to forget any moment of 2020. I hope I remember each day, each call for help, homeschooling while working and each claim for rights or denial of responsibility as we tried to survive COVID-19 as a city.
Pandemics are a potential risk of a global economy and the odds are this will not be our last one. While COVID ushered in many tragedies, I believe it also can bring many case studies and opportunities so we can survive future pandemics.
The caveat is, will humankind unite and do what right for all of us or will corporate greed continue to lead us to our own demise?
Our outgoing commander in chief was the catalyst of confusion for the American people, and sadly, we are more divided than ever. However, we also have more historically marginalized groups of people uniting and demanding a new standard by any means necessary. As a community organizer, educator and newly inducted Brown Beret of Milwaukee, I’m here for what is necessary for systemic change, and I’m thankful we have more activated residents that are uniting and embracing strategic planning.
And I don’t want to forget one second of it.
My intention each new year is to improve my life and my children’s lives in some way. This year, my goals are more purposeful as I’ve spent a lot of 2020 building capacity on goals to improve Milwaukee and empowering residents to embrace leadership.
I’m grateful for the conversations and plans I’ve been a part of in 2020, and I plan to stay the course to bring more of these goals to fruition in 2021.
Malik Pitchford, a Milwaukee native, studies political science and the African & Black diaspora at DePaul University.
2020 felt both mundane and overstimulating.
Mundane because the days seem to mesh into one long continuous experience. It seemed like bad news, some slight hope, night and day, grief and a general exhaustion were to be a common occurrence every 24 hours. 2020 was chaotic, so consistently chaotic, that it became normal.
The inadequacy of our political and public health infrastructures, and the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in some of us truly not understanding just how much was lost last year. Not only in terms of death, but of “normal” ways of life.
It’s become played out at this point, but we should come to acknowledge the “new normal.” I think this reflects an understanding that our comfort can no longer come from envisioning a return to our “old” normal. Embracing the fact that our lives are forever changing—not just because of the virus or our political culture—embracing the fact that our lives will generally be dynamic is beneficial.
I have no idea what to look forward to in 2021. If 2020 is of any use, it shows us how difficult it can be to chart what we can hope to accomplish in the next.
Community organizing will be necessary if we as individuals care about others. Our communities — geographical and otherwise — depend on each person embracing change. We do this while helping those we care about adapt, learn from and cope with whatever changes we are met with.
Being responsible to a community ensures that we aren’t complicit with change, reveling in the uncertainty and exhaustiveness of life. Rather, while life can get exhausting at times, working toward building stronger communities ensures that we are never content with our hindsight.
Contributing to something larger-than-oneself might work as a means to accomplishing our individual goals, but it can also be a goal in itself. Establishing strong and fruitful connections with the people we care about and share beneficial values with is rewarding even when our lives are thrown out of order.

created: January 4, 2021


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 3, 2021

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: January 3, 2021

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

author: Adam Carr


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Lessons we can’t forget: Community members look back at 2020 to set goals for 2021, part two | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 5, 2021
Bishop Walter Harvey, Eloisa Gómez and Zachery Lathan-Williams.
Second of two parts
We finally made it to 2021.
But that doesn’t mean it’s a blank slate.
Although there’s plenty we’d likely rather forget, 2020 offered many valuable lessons.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
So we asked community members to reflect on the past year and their intentions for the year ahead.
Formerly the lead pastor at Parklawn Assembly of God in Sherman Park, Bishop Walter Harvey continues to serve in an advisory role. In addition, he is the CEO of Prism Economic Development Corp. and board president of the National Black Fellowship of the Assemblies of God.
Sir Winston Churchill is credited with first saying, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”
The lesson I want to hold onto from 2020 is the power of “review.” I learned that a crisis reveals what is inside of you. Sports coaches review and watch game film after a victory or a loss to learn what happened and why. I learned that when tough times, testing or temptations come, they can reveal what is deeper inside of you.
Three particular areas are worthy of closer examination: unresolved issues, unhealed hurts, and unmet needs. If unexamined and unchecked, any of these three can cause the state of crisis to continue. Therefore, I will review and ask “why” an awful lot in 2021.
My goals in 2021 include leading a local and national recalibration of what it means to “be the Church” versus going to church. In 2020, the traditional way of religious expression, attending church in the building was limited and, in many cases, closed down.
In the game of chess, the “queen” is the most powerful piece on the board. The “queen” of the traditional church has been the building or location. God allowed our “queen” to be removed.
I am confident that His good and perfect plans and power will still win the game because I have long believed the original intent of Jesus was for His followers to engage as ambassadors in the marketplace of life and not just for a few hours on the weekend inside the church building.
My goal corporately is to lead a reformation movement back to what it means to be the “ekklesia” (the original word Jesus used to describe His plan and pattern for His people on earth in Matthew 16:18).
My goal personally is to live out this value daily by growing in relationship with intimate groups of friends, family and neighbors.
’
Eloisa Gómez is a poet and voting rights advocate who co-authored “Somos Latinas: Voices of Wisconsin Latina Activists.”
Some lessons seem clearer to me than others. As I try to make sense of this past year, I know more lessons will emerge.
2020 — I’d call it the Year of the Tsunamis. One huge tidal wave after another overwhelming our global, national and local communities.
Some did not survive the year and those of us that did lived those the crests and falls of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the loss of individual and family incomes, the loss of lives in police custody and corresponding take-to-the-street protests of the Black Lives Matter movement and backlash by white supremacy groups. If that was not more than enough, we dealt with voter suppression tactics to eliminate people’s right to vote in all four 2020 elections.
Each day, I struggled with my fears, feelings of helplessness and a feeling that the small contributions I was making were not enough. Those emotions were countered often, however, by the bravery of every-day people. From personal experiences and those I watched on TV, I witnessed inspiring acts of heroism and sheroism — of all ages and races.
Many every-day citizens stepped forward; each deciding to risk and/or be generous with their lives. Medical staff treating patients at hospitals, the array of other first-responders, migrant workers harvesting our fruit and vegetables, persons going to the polls to vote, helpers of the homeless and the hungry, those that went into the streets to call for humane and racist-free policing and so many more brave and selfless actions of others to name here.
We were all swept up by the tidal waves of 2020 and yet I learned much about who we are as a people. I have a greater admiration for the every-day citizen as risk takers, the helper to strangers and all other building-community actions under these difficult times.
In 2021, I plan to continue my involvement in working with others to increase voter awareness as a way to support democracy, particularly in Milwaukee’s Latinx community.
I also plan to learn more about historical discriminations and to become more aware of my biases that limit me from more fully supporting and advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of our society.
‘2020 provided a reminder of our ability to persevere’
Zachery Lathen-Williams is an author and co-host of the “Convince Me Otherwise” podcast.
There’s one quote that, for me, encapsulates 2020:
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
-Mike Tyson
Throughout the course of my life, I’ve found that whenever I set my intention on attaining a particular goal, obstacles immediately presented themselves. Typically, I’ve been able to traverse any road my aspirations would take me. However, 2020 was formidable.
I had plans, as we all did. Many of them were derailed by the pandemic. For those of us who are spiritual, we might reference scripture “many plans are in a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose which prevails.”
It is human nature to attempt to make sense of things, but in an unprecedented year of loss, from COVID-19 and racial injustice, amplified by political incompetence— or unwillingness (looking at you Washington, D.C.) it’s difficult, even for the most religious or optimistic of people to find a silver lining.
Nevertheless, as bleak as it may be, it is there. Each one of us that presses on in hopes for a brighter tomorrow showcases that unyielding hope. I believe 2020 provided a reminder of our ability to persevere. I’ll carry that with me as we inch closer to a new year.
•Lessons we can’t forget: Community members look back at 2020 to set goals for 2021
•We asked you what you’re thankful for. Here’s what you told us.
•Milwaukee gives thanks 2020: Four shout-outs to those who stand out

created: January 5, 2021

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 4, 2021


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2020 was a deadly year in Milwaukee. Here are resources to keep you safe and our kids engaged. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 6, 2021
414 Life is one of many programs in Milwaukee dedicated to stopping violence in the city. Here, Chris Conley, 414 Life outreach and resource coordinator, Uniting Garden Homes, speaks with reporters in 2019. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
2020 was a deadly year in Milwaukee, with 189 deaths compared with 97 the year before.
This breaks the record, set in 1991, of 165 homicides.
As we start a new year, here are resources to help keep you safe and our kids engaged. As COVID-19 has forced nearly everyone to go remote, please contact each organization directly to determine what they are offering virtually or in person.
SAFETY, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND HEALING RESOURCES:
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414 Life
414 Life is a violence interruption team based in Milwaukee neighborhoods and hospitals through partnerships with Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin and Uniting Garden Homes.
Project Ujima
Project Ujima, based out of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, works with youths who have experienced violence and end up in the hospital. The project provides crisis intervention, case management, social and emotional support, youth development and mentoring and mental health services.
Safe and Sound
Safe and Sound’s mission is to “unite residents, youth, law enforcement and community resources to build safe and empowered neighborhoods.” You can find its neighborhood safety resources here. See where Safe and Sound works here, and what events it’s organizing this year here.
Sojourner Family Peace Center
Sojourner Family Peace Center provides services, support and safety resources to victims of domestic violence. Its 24-hour hotline is (414) 933-2722.
Trauma Response Team
The Trauma Response Team provides support to children and families in Milwaukee who have been exposed to trauma or stressful experiences. It’s a partnership between the City of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Police Department and Wraparound Milwaukee. If you or someone you know could benefit from these services, you can call the team at (414) 257-7621.
YOUTH PROGRAMS, RESOURCES AND CENTERS:
Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Milwaukee
Boys and Girls Clubs offers safe spaces and activities for youths from kindergarten to high school all over the city to learn, play and hang out. Find a club near you by clicking here.
City on a Hill
City on a Hill is a faith-based organization located at 2224 W. Kilbourn Ave. that offers a variety of services for the community, including youth, family, health and social programs.
COA Youth and Family Center
COA offers programming and safe spaces for youths of all ages—including athletics, art and gardening—at its two locations: 909 E. Garfield Ave. and 2320 W. Burleigh St. For more information on specific opportunities, look here.
HeartLove Place
Located at 1927 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., HeartLove Place is a faith-based organization that offers youth programming and family resources. Find more information here.
Hmong American Women’s Center
HAWA has several programs geared toward Southeast Asian youths that focus on “empowering leadership in youth through community organizing and involvement.” More details are here.
Journey House
Journey House offers youth development, athletic and art programs on Milwaukee’s near South Side at 2110 W Scott St. You can find the different options here.
Ma’ruf Center for Youth Innovation
Ma’ruf is a youth center at 2110 W. Hampton Ave. It offers mentorship and has a gaming zone, a science lab, a technology lab, a library and a gym. Its programs range from leadership to coding to martial arts. Learn more here.
Milwaukee Public Libraries
Milwaukee Public Libraries are full of resources, programs, events and activities all free and open to the community. Check out the events being offered at your neighborhood library.
Neu-Life
Neu-Life works to empower and instill leadership in neighborhood youths through a wide array of programs and is located at 2014 W North Ave. Check out more here.
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center
Silver Spring is located in Westlawn at 5460 N. 64th St. and has programs for all ages. You can learn more here. Space is limited due to the COVID-19 crisis.
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care – Bucyrus Campus
The center, located at 2450 W. North Ave., offers programming and safe spaces for school-age youths.
Urban Underground
Urban Underground offers after school programming for youths age 13-18. Find contact information here.
To learn more about violence prevention efforts and strategy in Milwaukee, check out the Blueprint for Peace.
Help us keep this list updated
Did we miss a resource? Let us know by sending an email to info@milwaukeenns.org with “Safety resources” in the subject line.

created: January 6, 2021


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 5, 2021


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8 things you need to know about coronavirus vaccinations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
January 6, 2021
Dr. Lyle Ignace, in an effort to help remove stigmas, is vaccinated during a Dec. 15 Facebook Live event. He was the first from the center to be vaccinated. (Photo provided by the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center)
The COVID-19 vaccine is here and could be available to the public as early as spring.
After emergency use authorizations from the Food and Drug Administration, vaccines from both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are now in circulation nationwide. Vaccines are currently being distributed to health care workers and residents at long-term care facilities, following Wisconsin Department of Health Services guidelines.
Ahead of the release of the vaccine to the wider public, we gathered information about the coronavirus vaccine from public health organizations.
We also asked two experts about the vaccine: Dr. Joyce Sanchez, assistant professor and infectious disease expert at the Medical College of Wisconsin; and Dr. Lyle Ignace, a CEO of the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center.
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Here’s what you need to know:
1. Vaccines require two separate shots
Vaccines from both manufacturers are administered in two separate shots. Both shots are required to make sure that the vaccine is effective.
The Pfizer vaccine is given in two shots separated by about three weeks. The Moderna vaccine also is given in two shots separated by four weeks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a vaccine in development that would require only one shot.
2. How effective is the vaccine?
The Pfizer vaccine was proven to be 95% effective in clinical trials, according to the FDA. The Moderna vaccine was 94% effective.
3. Who can get the vaccine?
The Pfizer vaccine is approved for anyone 16 and older. The Moderna vaccine is approved for anyone 18 and older.
4. Side effects are ‘minimal’
Joyce Sanchez, an immunology expert at Medical College of Wisconsin, says the vaccines are “exquisitely safe.” (Photo provided by Joyce Sanchez)
There are possible side effects resulting from the vaccine.
The FDA lists the Pfizer vaccine’s side effects as injection site pain, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, injection site swelling, injection site redness, nausea, feeling unwell and swollen lymph nodes.
The FDA lists the Moderna vaccine’s side effects as fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, nausea and vomiting and fever.
After receiving his vaccine, Ignace said he had some discomfort in his arm and experienced fatigue about 24 hours after getting the shot. By the end of the next day, he was back to normal.
Some people who received the vaccine have also reported allergic reactions.
Sanchez said allergic reactions have been rare and likely are spurred by ingredients in the vaccine. A full list of ingredients for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is provided by the FDA.
Sanchez said anyone with severe allergic reactions should consult their health care professional before receiving the vaccine.
The CDC also urges people to report any issues with the vaccine to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.
5. There is no live virus in the vaccine
Sanchez said the vaccine does not contain any live traces of the coronavirus, so you cannot get COVID-19 from it.
Sanchez said the vaccine instead uses messenger RNA (or mRNA) to create part of a “spike protein” that can fight the virus. The mRNA helps develop antibodies to the virus and strengthens the immune system against coronavirus.
6. How long am I protected if I get the vaccine?
Sanchez said it is still too early to tell. Once the vaccine has been out for more than a month, health officials will likely be able to figure out the approximate range for protection.
7. Even if you get the vaccine, it’s still important to practice safety protocols.
Sanchez said the vaccine is proven to protect you from the coronavirus, but it is not yet known if it stops transmission to others. She urged anyone who gets the vaccine to continue wearing masks and social distancing for the time being.
The CDC also said it was important to continue wearing a mask and distancing after receiving the shot.
8. Is the vaccine safe?
Both Ignace and Sanchez say yes.
Sanchez said the vaccine was “exquisitely safe” and that she recommended people receive it in either form. Ignace, in an effort to help remove stigmas about the vaccine, received it during a Facebook Live event.
“That was my way of saying ‘It’s safe, and I’m willing to do it,’” Ignace said.
Ignace encouraged anyone skeptical of the vaccine to read and get informed about it. Sanchez also encouraged people to ask questions about the vaccine and seek out information.
Got questions?
Email Matt Martinez at mmartinez@milwaukeenns.org and he will find the answers.

author: Matt Martinez


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Post from Community: Eastberg named dean of Professional and Graduate Studies | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Cole
January 6, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Jodi Eastberg, Ph.D., has been named dean of Professional and Graduate Studies at Alverno College, Joseph Foy, vice president for Academic Affairs announced. She assumed the role on January 1.
Eastberg, who served as executive director of the Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls and the Center for Academic Excellence, will lead the college’s academic work with graduate students in all disciplines. Within the School of Professional Studies she will oversee the Business and Education divisions and the Communication and Technology Department.
Eastberg succeeds Patricia Luebke, Ph.D., who retired.
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“Jodi’s dedication to Alverno students and our principles of teaching and learning are evident in her teaching, as well as through her work mentoring students and faculty through the Center for Academic Excellence,” said Foy. “She has demonstrated strong leadership on campus for many years, and we are fortunate to have her step into this new role.” Foy also praised outgoing Dean Luebke for her many contributions over the years. “We are forever indebted to Pat for her dedicated leadership and advocacy. Alverno is a stronger institution because of her.”
Eastberg came to Alverno in 2005 as an associate professor of History and was promoted to full professor in 2017. She also was chair of the History department. As executive director of the Center for Academic Excellence which she co-founded, Eastberg worked with Alverno faculty and staff to provide curricular and co-curricular opportunities for high-achieving students, including research fellowships, conference and study abroad experiences, and fellowships.
In her role as the executive director of Alverno’s Research Center for Women and Girls, Eastberg in 2019 oversaw The Alverno Report: The Status of Girls in Wisconsin, the most comprehensive consolidation of information about the issues facing girls in Wisconsin, which received statewide attention. She also organized the college’s State of Wisconsin Girls Summit, an opportunity for stakeholders to have productive conversations about and celebrate the contributions of girls in our community.
Eastberg serves on Alverno’s Graduate Council, the Council for Student Assessment, the Technology Steering Committee, and the Student Orientation and Registration Committee. She also led the college’s mid-cycle accreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission.
Luebke joined Alverno in 2011 after a 30-year career with the Wauwatosa, Wis., School District. During her tenure, she helped launch new education programs, including a paraprofessional to teacher licensure program, a graduate program in school psychology and a doctorate in education, one of two doctorate programs at the college. In May 2019, the Montessori Institute of Wisconsin relocated to Alverno, a move led by Luebke, who also deepened the college’s Teach for America partnership. Both initiatives directly support Alverno’s strategic plan, a key part of which is directed at preparing highly skilled K-12 educations, specifically for high-need urban schools.
About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

author: Kelly Cole


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Eastberg_J-1500×1000.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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January 5, 2021

author: Name *


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Post from Community: Secret Lives of Planets: Virtual planetarium show | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UW-Milwaukee Planetarium
January 6, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
What’s weird about our solar system?  Journey to each planet to gather clues and explore the mysteries that lie within.  Behold the latest discoveries of several spacecraft from Juno to Curiosity that puzzle us such as Jupiter’s ever-changing storms, Saturn’s intriguing moons, and Mars’ potential for life.
We’ll take questions at the end of the program through the chat. Recommended for ages 4 and up.
This LIVE program takes place on YouTube on Friday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 30 at 2:00 p.m.
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To get the link, register at https://uwm.universitytickets.com/?cid=195

author: UW-Milwaukee Planetarium


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secret-lives-social-media-1.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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January 5, 2021


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: NNS reporter Edgar Mendez discusses drug-related deaths in 2020 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 7, 2021
Milwaukee County has likely already surpassed its prior all-time high of 418 drug overdose deaths in 2019, and reaching 500 cases this year seems like a foregone conclusion. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
NNS reporter Edgar Mendez joins Joy Powers of WUWM’s “Lake Effect” to discuss his recent story on drug deaths in Milwaukee County in 2020.
Mendez says drug overdoses have been trending up for the past 15 years but that 2020 saw an unprecedented surge.

created: January 7, 2021


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 6, 2021
“0106a2”. Released: 2021.


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‘We’ll get you through this’: Milwaukee-area volunteers have helped 600 people recover from COVID-19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
January 7, 2021
`A program to help people recover from COVID-19 has helped over 600 Milwaukeeans since the pandemic began. (File photo by Allison Steines.)
Alexander Hardy was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Dec. 4.
Hardy, a 64-year-old with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, got tested because he had been exposed to someone with coronavirus. He felt fine but figured he should get tested anyway.
Hardy said the results threw him for a loop.
“You don’t know what your journey with it is going to be about,” Hardy said.
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After he got the news, the first call Hardy made was to Common Ground, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit. A member of his church had gone through a program for people diagnosed with COVID-19, and he thought the program could help.
From there, Hardy was in the hands of a squadron of retired health professionals, licensed clinicians and health care workers.
Common Ground Community Health Volunteers, a program started shortly after the pandemic began, has helped over 600 people recovering from COVID-19.
Pat Ruttum, a volunteer with Common Ground and a retired nurse, said the program provides support and guidance for people who are diagnosed with COVID-19. The program pairs patients with volunteers who help them navigate what to do once they have COVID-19.
“I’m your cheerleader,” Ruttum said, providing an example of how she begins her calls. “I’m a retired nurse. We’ll get you through this.”
The program is straightforward: Volunteers get a name, address and phone number from the Milwaukee Health Department. The volunteers then call their patients every day and help monitor their progress as they recover from the disease.
A pulse oximeter to measure oxygen and circulation also is dropped off at the patient’s address, and volunteers help patients learn how to use it and what the readings mean.
Hardy said someone called him every day. He talked about how he was feeling, and his volunteer also helped him figure out his oximeter. He checked often to make sure his oxygen level was above 93. Any lower would mean medical attention was needed.
“It made me feel good that they had designated the time,” Hardy said of the check-ins.
Ruttum said most check-ins last for over a week. But she said some have gone as long as 20 days and as short as four. The check-ins are made on a case-by-case basis. Hardy had check-ins with Common Ground for about 10 days.
24-hour clinicians
A clinician is on call 24 hours a day. They can help patients determine what to do next if their oxygen readings start coming in low.
This could include staying at home, going to an emergency room under their own power or calling an ambulance. If a patient needs to go to an emergency room, the clinician calls ahead to let the ER staff know a client is coming.
Francisco Enriquez, a pediatrician with Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, volunteers as a clinician. Enriquez is available for calls from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during his shifts. Sometimes he gets no calls, but he can get three to four on a shift.
Enriquez said he monitors patients’ conditions, including symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. He also asks them questions that don’t require the oximeter, like how far they can walk and whether breathing is more labored than usual.
Enriquez said the idea behind the program is to be a resource for people with COVID-19, especially those who feel they have to deal with it on their own.
“Patients felt alone,” Enriquez said. “Making the decision to seek more help can be difficult.”
Ruttum said the check-ins help, especially for people who are isolated in a room and trying not to get their family sick.
“Some of them are afraid they’re going to die,” Ruttum said. “Most of them know someone who has died or been hospitalized.”
Hardy isolated from his wife and son while he had the disease. He said it helped to talk to someone.
“You hear what they say on the news about folks over 60,” Hardy said.
When it came to recovery, Hardy got help there, too. He said his volunteer took the time to help him figure out how to go back into regular life and deal with other people’s anxieties. The key was to still be careful and keep wearing a mask, Hardy said.
Ruttum said patients can tell Common Ground volunteers things they won’t share with loved ones.
She said some patients try to protect their loved ones from fear by minimizing their symptoms and not telling them how they’re really feeling, but they feel comfortable discussing their case with the volunteers.
“That was one of the most important things,” Hardy said. “It was a safe place to talk about your feelings.”
For more information
Contact Patricia Obluck to learn more or get involved at patricia.obluck@commongroundwi.org or call 414-217-6135.
In case you missed it: EXCLUSIVE: Keisha Krumm leaving Common Ground; new successor named


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 6, 2021


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5 things to do and know the weekend of Jan. 8 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
January 8, 2021
The Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market, seen here during the kickoff of the 2019 season, has adopted many pandemic precautions to keep vendors and shoppers safe. (File photo by Adam Carr)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Mosaic workshop at the Farmhouse Paint Bar: Friday, Jan. 8
The Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall, 4511 S. 6th St., is doing a mosaic workshop. The workshop costs $35 and lasts for two hours. Those interested can attend in person or order a mosaic for pickup or shipping. The workshop is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8. Additional workshop dates are available.
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2. LGBT Center: Virtual dance party: Friday, Jan. 8
The LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin is hosting a free virtual dance party from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8. The party will take place over Zoom and participants can register here. Omé Lopez, a queer entertainer, will be the DJ.
3. Winter Wonder Wander in Lincoln Park: Saturday, Jan. 9
Friends of Lincoln Park is hosting Winter Wonder Wander in Lincoln Park, 5400 N. Milwaukee River Parkway (entrance to the Oak Leaf Trail), starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9. Local science teacher Mark Enters will lead the walk. Participants are asked to wear a mask, to maintain social distancing and to bring their own hot chocolate or snack.
4. Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market: Saturday, Jan. 9
The Milwaukee Winter Farmers Market is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9. The market is located at the Greenhouse Annex at the Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd. The vendors vary per week and are subject to change. Guests are required to wear a mask.
5. “Embodied Truth: Finding ways to move together”: Sunday, Jan. 10
Cooperative Performance’s show, “Embodied Truth: Finding ways to move together,” will be available to watch from 12 a.m.  to 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10. Directed by Daniel Burkholder and Kimani Fowlin, the show explores the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements through a parental lens. The performance is a combination of dance, spoken word, storytelling and more. To watch the show, click here.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: January 8, 2021

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 7, 2021


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‘It’s the same cycle.’ How community members are responding to Jacob Blake case.
PrincessSafiya Byers
January 8, 2021
Brooks Griffin, Monique Liston, Vaun Mayes, Annia Leonard and Richard Nwabuzor.
The shooting of Jacob Blake by officers of the Kenosha Police Department in August spurred yet another national conversation on police brutality. Earlier this week, officials in Kenosha announced they would not bring charges against the officer who shot and gravely wounded Blake outside an apartment building.
We reached out to community leaders in our neighborhoods to get their thoughts on the decision.
(Photo provided by Monique Liston)
: Monique Liston
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
: 34
: Lindsay Heights
Occupation: Chief strategist at Ubuntu Research and Evaluation
The biggest thing being the ways in which I listen to the DA utilize the language of diversity, equity and inclusion workshops and trainings to defend why this system can continue to terrorize black people with no consequence.
Specifically, at the beginning he spoke to the fact that unconscious bias exists, and he could not imagine living in a world facing this type of terror. But also, that he could not bring charges and just because those things exist here is why he could charge the cop. So instead of highlighting the problems with the system, he just said the system has no room for the type of justice that people are seeking and left it at that. I don’t know if people realize but that’s what he said.
My biggest criticism is always that in general our political memories are short. So these things happen, and we forget about them, so we don’t make a connection to the bigger picture as they occur. It’s imperative for us to really take some time as individuals, scholars, leaders in the community to really dissect what occurred and talk about it piece by piece so we can embed it our individual and collective political memory. And that we can begin to use it as a seed for our political action and engagement, not just a headline. It encourages us to understand how whiteness works in these systems and how anti-blackness works in these systems.
(Photo provided by Annia Leonard)
: Annia Leonard
: 25
: Riverwest
Occupation: Youth organizer with Uplifting Black Liberation and Community Vision, or UBLAC.
It’s exhausting. So many people, activists are getting tired. People out there putting their lives on the line literally for justice. While the fight is exhausting, the fire to uplift the voices of the ignored is necessary. How can we have charges dropped for this case, but get some leeway with cops in Breonna Taylor’s case? We have to recognize that the imbalance isn’t just the system, it’s in the people who perpetuate it.
What’s next is demanding a different system of accountability and of legal processes. I think it’s critical that we look at all sides of this. It’s easy to be critical of what others are doing. It upsets people sometimes, but we need to be critical of ourselves and the activists as well.
(Photo provided by Richard Nwabuzor)
: Richard Nwabuzor
: 22
: Silver Spring
: Graduate of Marquette University
I wasn’t really surprised. It’s the same cycle that always happens. A Black person gets shot, people protest and denounce it on social media, the cop is acquitted. It’s the same cycle. I expected it.
It’s time for us to really analyze our condition. There is no more room for discussions about what the problem is.
As a child I wondered why they were doing this. Now understand that brutality isn’t going away because it’s a symptom of the job.
People spent the entire summer, and then some, organizing some of the largest protests in history against brutality, and then we turned and voted someone into office who voted for the crime bill and a prosecutor.
We are invested in the idea of being comfortable in this country. We need to be divested enough to want out own liberation.
(Photo provided by Brooks Griffin)
: Brooks Griffin
: 27
: Hampton Heights
: Youth organizer and president of The inspired Network
I was extremely frustrated but not shocked. I knew there would be no charges  . . .  I feel like I’m being gaslighted. No matter what I know to be true, this system treats me like I’m confused.
As a leader. I still have to lead. I can’t allow the anger and frustration of this to stop me from leading the best way I know how. Next is having intentional and purposeful conversation with anyone I’m around and doing so in a way that they hear me.
(NNS file photo by Elizabeth Baker)
: Vaun Mayes
: 33
: Sherman Park
: Activist
My initial thoughts are that this was expected, and honestly there are so many inconsistencies we can clearly point out as far as the decision. What this comes down to is the need for (unbiased and qualified) special prosecutors in this state to handle these kinds of cases, because clearly the DAs here are too cowardly to even attempt to do their jobs when it comes to law enforcement.
Next steps should be filing formal complaints with the FPC in Kenosha, continuing a campaign to have the officer resign or get fired. Body cams need to be implemented throughout the state as well, priority in places where these issues are apparent and prevalent. And lastly, Biden needs to re-engage in meaningful conversations to bring about reform nationally.
‘I would like police officers to know that my skin is not a weapon’: What young Black men in Milwaukee are saying after the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Aggressive policing escalates violence at protests, research shows. A former Madison police chief touts a better way.
In their own words: Milwaukee reacts to death of George Floyd and protests

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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50267418308_004314b468_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 7, 2021


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50811654926_d5fcec3c53_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 7, 2021


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do and know this January in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 8, 2021
The Marcus Performing Arts Center is hosting its 37th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration. (Photo provided by Marcus Performing Arts Center)
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the January installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month’s features include virtual yoga sessions with creative powerhouse Malkia Stampley-Johnson and Milwaukee Turners, Marcus Performing Arts Center’s annual (and virtual) celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the local chapter of the Brown Berets’ call to action on Inauguration Day, the recent “Latino Wisconsin” documentary and our new partnership with the Vel R. Philips Juvenile Justice Center School and its newsletter, “Vel’s Voice.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 7, 2021
“0107c_0”. Released: 2021.


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Jan. 11 to Jan. 16 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
January 11, 2021
Dasha Kelly Hamilton will be reading an excerpt from “Life, In Short” during a book chat for the Milwaukee Public Library. (Photo provided by Milwaukee Rep)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by .
1. Nō Studios presents “Critical Content”
John Ridley, the founder of Nō Studios, and team curated a documentary film event titled “Critical Content: Stories That Matter.” The event is free and open to the public and features a documentary a day starting Monday, Jan. 11 through Saturday, Jan. 16. Featured documentaries include “Time,” “Boys State,” “John Lewis: Good Trouble” and more. For the schedule and registration, click here.
2. Alpha Phi Alpha’s Martin Luther King Jr. youth trivia contest
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is hosting a trivia contest with the Milwaukee Public Library as part of the library’s Martin Luther King Day celebration. The contest started Friday, Jan. 1 and will continue through Monday, Jan. 18. Each day, the Milwaukee Public Library will share a trivia question on its Facebook page at 4 p.m., and participants must enter the correct answer by 10 p.m. The contest is for youths 18 and younger. Each day, there will be a daily drawing for a $25 visa gift card.
Dasha Kelly Hamilton, author and Milwaukee poet laureate, will be reading an excerpt from her book “Life, In Short,” during the Milwaukee Public Library’s book chat. The presentation will take place on Zoom from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12. To register, click here. NNS Video: A new chapter: Dasha Kelly Hamilton’s next big adventure
4. UWM’s “Culture of Racism, recovery and Resiliency” series
UWM’s School of Continuing Education is offering a 12-session series titled “Culture of Racism, Recovery and Resiliency.” This week, there will be a panel discussion about empowering individuals to impact positive societal change. The discussion will take place on Zoom from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14. The individual sessions cost $29 and the full series costs $99.
5. “Tales for Tots: Winter’s Tale”
Hawthorn Glen Outdoor Education Center, 1130 N. 60th St., is hosting “Tales for Tots” from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15. The event is for children ages 3 and older and includes a story, crafts and a nature hike. This week’s story is “Winter’s Tale” by Robert Sabuda. The cost to register is $5 for Milwaukee residents and $8 for non-residents.
The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: January 11, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 10, 2021

created: January 10, 2021


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The NNS coronavirus update for the week of Jan. 11: Wisconsin Center will become vaccination site; concerns raised as 2 key indicators go red | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
January 11, 2021
Stimulus checks are on the way as the federal government provides some financial relief for residents and businesses facing economic challenges because of the pandemic. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the expected opening of a vaccination site at the Wisconsin Center.
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
The Wisconsin Center will be transformed into a site for COVID-19 vaccinations this week.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Interim Health Commissioner Marlaina Jackson said health care workers and residents at long-term care facilities will be among the first to be vaccinated. Officials said the site will likely open Tuesday.
Stimulus payments of $600 are making their way to residents.
The payments are being distributed by the Internal Revenue Service via direct deposit, debit card and paper checks. People who qualify will receive up to $600. This means up to $1,200 per couple and $600 for each dependent.
People who thing they qualify for payment but have not received it can also file for a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax filing. You can request missed payment on both stimulus checks using this method.
Last month, Congress approved a $900 billion stimulus package to help residents and businesses deal with the financial strain posed by the pandemic.
The key indicators for cases and testing in Milwaukee County went red last week, indicating alarming trends in both areas.
The testing indicator means that the county is seeing a percent positivity over 10% or less than 2,000 tests administered in a day, a benchmark that indicates uncontrolled spread. The cases indicator means a significant upward trend over the last two weeks.
“This is a dangerous combination and a warning sign of what could come,” said Dr. Ben Weston, director of medical services for the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management.
According to the Milwaukee County COVID-19 dashboard, there were 4,656 cases in the last two weeks.
Residents can now order at-home saliva COVID-19 tests for free and have the kit delivered to their homes.
Saliva tests have recently been proven to be as effective as nasal swab tests for determining whether someone has COVID-19.
Wisconsin surpassed half a million COVID-19 cases as of last week, meaning over 10% of the state’s population has gotten the coronavirus
This comes as the seven-day average begins to climb again in the state and county after a dip in the middle of December.
The nation also passed a grim milestone last week: 4,000 deaths in a single day, according to Johns Hopkins COVID-19 dashboard. The United States has now had over 365,000 citizens die from the coronavirus.
Read our story here.
Read our story here.
To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd., and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., are now open and operating. Miller Park, 1 Brewers Way, is also open as an effective testing site.
For more information on testing, including how to identify symptoms and when you should get tested, visit TestUpMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.


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OPINION: The pandemic is disrupting education. And we need to reduce the stress students-and their parents-are enduring. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Gabriela Dieguez and Dr. Francisco Enriquez
January 12, 2021
(Photo by Wes Tank of TankThink)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Gabriela Dieguez is a clinical social worker and Dr. Francisco Enriquez is a pediatrician, both working on Milwaukee’s South Side.
The past weeks at the office have been extremely busy. Conversations from the exam and counseling rooms with clients, as well as the corridors with coworkers are the same.
Parents and children are struggling with the demands of online schooling, the social isolation and uncertainty.
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The levels of stress are increasing significantly for students. Parents complain that their children are having frequent meltdowns. Children are complaining of chest pain, abdominal pain, insomnia, etc. Some are able to verbalize that they don’t like being in front of the computer all day and that they miss socializing with their peers and with other adults.
The levels of stress are increasing also for parents. A mother of four needs to supervise her school-aged children and, if some of them are young, even attend their classes online. During the online school day, she needs to log onto four different sites, each with a different password for each child. After the online school day, she supervises her children’s homework. Additionally, she needs to do all the normal chores of being a parent.
Many parents are reaching their emotional limit.
The current situation is not sustainable. It creates conditions that result in anxiety and other behavioral health issues as well as physical problems. These can lead to an increased number of visits to primary health providers, to counselors and to the emergency department. In extreme cases, it can lead to severe outcomes such as suicide.
As a society we need to adjust to this new reality. We need to change our expectations of what can be realistically accomplished with online schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to use our resources as schools, as families and as communities to nurture what is most important to maintain emotional and social stability, and we need to start with families with school-aged children.
The expectation that the school-year curriculum can be completed under the current circumstances is not realistic. It adds substantial stress in parents who may already be worried about unemployment, paying the rent, health care coverage, the risk of illness and supporting other relatives who may be affected by the pandemic.
We need to accept that, in many cases, the “normal” academic goals will not be reached this year. And that is OK given the unsettling circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This approach does not mean that we give up. Instead, just as the human body adjusts and focuses blood flow to the vital organs during times of severe stress or crisis, we will focus on the well-being of our students, their parents and our community.
We need to nurture what makes us whole and balanced.
We propose a new approach to our goals for our school-aged children for this year. Some of the elements for a curriculum change would be:

created: January 12, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 11, 2021


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Post from Community: MPL continues strong tradition of celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with online events this year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
January 12, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
On Monday, January 18, Milwaukee Public Library will host a virtual celebration for Martin Luther King Day. Typically a daylong celebration at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch Library, this year’s events has been shifted online to ensure community safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The program is presented in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Library Teen Advisory Board and funded by the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation.
Centering on the theme “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere,” the events will feature live online programming including:
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All of the day’s events can be viewed live on: MPL’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.  King Day Celebration packets can also be picked up at all MPL locations at no cost while supplies last.
Additional information, booklists, and a list of organizations where patrons can volunteer to support equity, diversity and inclusion can be found on the library’s website at mpl.org/MLKDay

author: Milwaukee Public Library


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 12, 2021


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What you need to know about the second round of stimulus payments | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
January 12, 2021
The IRS is using information from tax returns to disperse stimulus checks, and a new tax credit could help you get money back in 2021. (File photo by Elliott Hughes)
Across the nation, people are receiving money from the Internal Revenue Service as a result of federal legislation passed last month.
The checks are known as Economic Impact Payments, or more colloquially, stimulus checks.
Here’s what you need to know about this economic lifeline:
How much are the checks worth?
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
People who qualify will receive up to $600. This means up to $1,200 per couple and $600 for each dependent.
Who qualifies for stimulus checks?
According to the Internal Revenue Service, most people qualify for a full stimulus check unless:
A potential recipient’s adjusted gross income for the year exceeds these totals:
You fall into the following groups:
How is eligibility determined?
Christopher Miller, a, IRS spokesman based in Milwaukee, said the service uses information from 2019 tax returns to determine who receives stimulus checks and how much money a person receives.
The agency also uses tax returns to figure out the best way to provide the money. Miller said people can get the money through direct deposit, checks or debit cards.
What do I have to do to get a payment?
If everything goes according to plan, nothing. The IRS also is using 2019 tax returns to figure out the best way to disburse the money automatically. The money could already be in your account if you have direct deposit.
What should I do if I’m eligible and did not receive it?
Miller said anyone who was eligible for a stimulus check and did not receive it or received the wrong amount can file for the Recovery Rebate Credit on 2020 tax returns.
Taxpayers who use third-party tax filings, such as H & R Block and Turbo Tax, have reported having difficulty receiving their stimulus. Those payments can also be filed in the Recovery Rebate Credit.
Miller said anyone who did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and files in 2020 can still file for the Recovery Rebate Credit if eligible. The Recovery Rebate Credit can also be used to request money from the first round of economic impact payments if filers did not receive them.
People can also use the IRS website and select “Get My Payment.”
When should I file my taxes for 2020?
Tax Day is April 15, but you can file taxes before then, including using e-file and paper file options.
To find out if you qualify for new tax credits in 2021, use the IRS’s Interactive Tax Assistant.


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How one project is helping women in the sex trade get off the streets and into stable housing | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
January 13, 2021
Many women involved in the street-based sex trade in Milwaukee are homeless.
In 2019, Rhonda Reid, a housing navigator for the Milwaukee County Housing Division, received a referral to help a chronically homeless woman who had also been involved in the street-based sex trade.
The woman, in poor health and struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues, wanted to turn her life around.
“Housing was her starting point,” Reid said.
She’s been housed for a year now, Reid said, has improved her physical and mental health and worked on her substance abuse issues. And she just went on a job interview.
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That type of progress is what a group of local organizations envisioned when they created Milwaukee Providing Opportunity for Wellness, Empowerment and Recovery, or MPOWER. The project seeks to help women involved in the sex trade obtain stable housing, treatment and long-term recovery support. The goal is to reduce an overreliance on emergency health care, arrests and overdose deaths, while helping these women turn their lives around.
According to Jeanne Geraci, executive director of the Benedict Center, one of the organizations leading the project, homelessness is a major obstacle to recovery.
“Before we started this work, there was limited awareness of the homelessness of women we work with,” Geraci said.
Not having access to housing, she said, prevents women in the sex trade from gaining the stability and safety they need to address other issues such as extreme physical and emotional trauma and drug addiction.
“It’s not fair to ask women to change if she doesn’t have the resources,” Geraci said.
The need to provide stable housing to help women escape the sex trade was never more evident than when the pandemic struck. The Benedict Center operates the Sisters Program, which provides services during street outreach or at two drop-in centers, one located on the North Side and one on the South Side. Unfortunately, once the pandemic hit, the drop-in centers closed, leaving the hundreds of women served annually with no safe place to go.
“The drop-in center was providing fundamental basic needs to women who are homeless — food and a place to rest for women who haven’t had a place to sleep,” Geraci said. Losing use of the centers also made it more challenging to connect the women with much-needed services such as treatment for opioid addictions. (The drop-in centers are reopened now on a limited basis, providing some relief.)
In addition, a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice allowed the Benedict Center and the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services’ Housing Division to expand their partnership with other groups, including the Southside Organizing Center, the Milwaukee Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office and the Medical College of Wisconsin to create MPOWER.
Eric Collins-Dyke, assistant administrator in Milwaukee County’s Housing Division, said the project aligns with the county’s “housing first” philosophy. That philosophy centers on providing housing to those who are most vulnerable, along with direct services such as treatment to address chronic homelessness.
Reid said the women she helps through MPOWER are perpetually in survival mode.
“Lack of housing has led to them ending up in very dangerous situations,” Reid said. “They are unsafe in the community and now unable to get away from a certain lifestyle that they are used to.”
So far, 47 women have received housing navigation services since July 2019, including 12 who were placed in a safe-haven-style house and 11 who have been placed in permanent housing, Geraci said. In addition, since July, 18 women have been placed in hotels where they are able to receive services through the Sisters Program.
Assistant District Attorney Ann Lopez, who works in the Community Prosecution Unit for MPD’s District 2, said an outside-the-box approach is needed to tackle the issue of prostitution, a major concern for the residents she serves. District 2 is located on the South Side, which has prostitution hubs along West Greenfield Avenue, West National Avenue and West Lincoln Avenue, according to Lopez.
Although residents appreciate seeing arrests of johns or prostitutes, she said police alone can’t solve the problem.
“Jails do not have the capacity to provide the resources to help them change their lives,” Lopez said.
She believes the MPOWER model provides a more effective intervention to help women get off the streets.
“You’re investing in them and helping to teach them how to live their life independently and obtain the housing, counseling or treatment services they need,” Lopez said. “Instead of arrest and prosecution, we are trying to work collaboratively and find some real interventions.”
Tammy Rivera, executive director of the Southside Organizing Center, agrees.
“Historically, arrests for prostitution have been disproportionate towards women and not the men who are solicitors,” she said.
Those arrests do not address the root problems these women face, such as the trauma they have from being abused and addiction struggles, she said. Rivera’s organization and several of the other organizations involved in MPOWER have been working to address these issues for several years.
She said adding the housing component, especially during the pandemic, became necessary during this stage of that partnership. Her organization’s role is to help create and develop a community engagement plan to support the project.
“When people understand it better, they have more empathy,” Rivera said. “The goal is to understand and tackle the root causes and assist the women to be safer and healthier as residents of the community.”

created: January 13, 2021

author: Edgar Mendez


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How one program teaches tenants their rights | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
January 14, 2021
The Rent for Success program teaches potential and current tenants the basic knowledge they need to successfully rent in Milwaukee. This is a class from 2019. (Photo provided by Department of Neighborhood Services)
Tina Wilson wants people to know their rights.
Wilson, the portfolio manager for Ogden and Company, a real estate company, has seen what it looks like when tenants are unfamiliar with the renting process.
“People often get taken advantage of,” Wilson said. “There are things you think people should know, and they just don’t.”
So, Ogden and Company refers tenants to Milwaukee’s Rent for Success program, which teaches people to be better tenants.
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The program, run by the Department of Neighborhood Services, educates renters on how to make safe and healthy choices in their housing. It also provides resources for situations renters may encounter.
Herlyn Roberson, outreach division program administrator, said Rent for Success was initiated by Mayor Tom Barrett.
“He decided that since we’re teaching landlords what their responsibilities were, we should be teaching tenants the same thing,” Roberson said.
The program works with tenants on skills such as understanding rental agreements, finding healthy food in their area and ending a bad tenancy.
“We go over the small things like looking in cabinets and flicking light switches when you go to see a home,” she said. “And also reading contracts completely in order to know your responsibilities.”
Roberson said the most important thing the program teaches renters is how to advocate for themselves.
“We want renters to have great relationships with property owners,” she said. “One way to do that is to know as much about what your landlord is supposed to be doing as the landlord does.
Ogden and Company uses the program as a second chance for struggling tenants trying to learn their responsibilities.
“We understand that people aren’t taught how to be tenants,” Wilson said. “This is a way for them to gain insight and not be penalized for what they don’t know.”
Other organizations also encourage residents to use the program, including Community Advocates, a community-based organization that serves low-income families.
Shawanna Lindenberg, a housing department manager at Community Advocates, said the program provides residents with invaluable information.
“We want to train renters because we want them to live happy, stress-fee lives,” Roberson said.
More about Rent for Success
The program, now in its third year, is offering free virtual trainings. To attend a virtual session, you need to have five or more people and reach out to Herlyn Roberson at HROBER@milwaukee.gov

created: January 14, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 13, 2021


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Post from Community: Marquette University announces two fellowships to support emerging or early-career filmmakers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Marquette University
January 14, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Marquette University has announced two fellowships for 2021, offering emerging or early-career filmmakers the resources to complete a project intended to provide a significant impact on their career trajectory. The two fellowships are a Social Justice Fellowship and a New Voices Fellowship.
Each fellowship is a one-year, project-based program during which fellows will receive access to equipment and facilities at Marquette’s Diederich College of Communication, shared office space at NŌ STUDIOS with high-end editing capabilities, student interns to help on productions, advice and mentorship from Marquette faculty, and a small stipend. In exchange, fellows will speak in relevant classes once each semester and mentor student interns.
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The Social Justice Fellowship will support a film exploring a social issue. The film can be either a documentary or a fictional work and is open to a filmmaker of any background. Meanwhile, the New Voices Fellowship is open to any filmmaker whose project works with a community of color and addresses its experiences.
Applications are open until Feb. 15, with an expected start date in early March. Filmmakers are able to apply for one fellowship or both. Successful applicants will apply with projects that can reasonably be completed in the 2021 calendar year. Projects may be short films, or proof of concept pieces for feature films that will be used for further grant applications and project development.

author: Marquette University


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 14, 2021


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Post from Community: “MLK Day of Service Event to Honor Dr. King” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lorraine Lathen, WAATPN
January 14, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
On Monday, January 18, 2021, from 11 AM — 3 PM, several Milwaukee groups will offer a Milwaukee Food Giveaway, COVID-testing and much more in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The volunteer led community event is sponsored by the Lovell Johnson Quality of Life Center, Jump at the Sun LLC, Health Connections, Inc. and Impower. All are members of the Milwaukee Unified Emergency Operations Center’s Community Resilience Response Team and have been joined by St. Mark AME Church.  The purpose of this event is to support Milwaukee residents during the pandemic by helping them to restock their cabinets, get tested and get additional information and support to help reduce their exposure to COVID-19.
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This event will take place at the Quality of Life Center located Center, 1530 W. Atkinson Ave. It will feature free COVID testing,  COVID health information, T-shirts, food  distribution and much more. Face masks and social distancing are required.
MLK Day is the only national holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Volunteers at the event will distribute free food and help direct visitors to ensure a safe and socially distanced event. Volunteers will also help deliver food to the elderly and others who can’t leave their home. Community members can sign up to volunteer at the event by visiting http://bit.ly/mlkdaymke.
The groups are working together to provide much needed resources to a community hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 18, 2021, is the 26th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy.
Location: Quality of Life Center, 1530 W. Atkinson Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53206
Time: 11:00-3:00 PM

author: Lorraine Lathen, WAATPN


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Worried about paying mortgage? What struggling homeowners need to know | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 14, 2021
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Just like renters, some homeowners also are finding it hard to keep up with their finances during the pandemic.
Here are a few resources that can help.
Who can I call for financial or legal help if I’m worried about paying my mortgage?
Resources for homeowners:
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Mediate Milwaukee offers mediation for tenants, landlords, homeowners and lenders to help work through conflicts and come to agreements. You can call them at 414-939-8800 or email them at apply@mediatemilwaukee.com.
Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee can provide legal assistance to income-eligible tenants in dispute with landlords, as well as to homeowners. You can call them at 414-727-5300.
Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council can help homeowners protect themselves from mortgage and foreclosure prevention scams, as well as from predatory home loans. You can call them at 414-278-1240.
Housing Resources Inc. can provide counseling to homeowners and has programs to help people prevent foreclosure. You can call them at 414-461-6330.
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Homeowner with a mortgage through WHEDA.
Federal loan programs: Those with federally or Government Sponsored Enterprise backed mortgages can find help here.


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5 things to do and know the weekend of Jan. 15 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
January 15, 2021
The Milwaukee Public Library is scheduled to continue contactless pickup through Tuesday, Jan. 19. (File photo by Jabril Faraj)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon .
1. Milwaukee Recreation’s yoga fest
Milwaukee Recreation is hosting a yoga fest to start off the new year. The classes are free but limited to nine participants per class. Yoga Fest began Wednesday, Jan. 13 and will continue through Friday, Jan. 22. There will be a session at Marshall Community Center, 4141 N. 64th St., from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 15. To register for any of the sessions, click here.
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2. Vigil for racial justice and democracy
Souls to the Polls Milwaukee and the SEIU Wisconsin State Council are hosting a vigil for racial justice and democracy. The vigil will be held at America’s Black Holocaust Museum, 401 W. North Ave., starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15. Interfaith leaders will be leading the event. The vigil will also be livestreamed.
3. K-pop workshop at Danceworks
Danceworks, 1661 N. Water St., is hosting a K-pop workshop. The class will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16. K-pop blends R&B and hip-hop sounds from the West with cultural elements from South Korea. The workshop costs $16 to attend. It will be taught by Alex Vanissaveth and will be offered in-person and virtually. To register for the class, click here. If you miss this session, the workshop will be offered again on Saturday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 30.
4. Dog days at Lynden Sculpture Garden
Lynden Sculpture Garden, 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd., is inviting dogs and their owners to come roam around the garden from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16. Entrance to the garden is free, and visitors are asked to adhere to social-distancing guidelines.
5. Contactless pickup at Milwaukee Public Library
Last month, the Milwaukee Public Library announced it would be reverting back to contactless pickup in light of the holiday season. Contactless pickup is scheduled to end on Tuesday, Jan. 19. However, if you wish to request an item before then, call Ready Reference at 414-286-3011, use or check out the library’s digital resources. Hours of operation vary per library.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: January 15, 2021


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Getting healthy is always important. But in 2021, it could save your life. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
January 15, 2021
In her programs, Bridgett Wilder encourages people to “declutter” and try to get to the root cause of their eating habits. (Photo provided by Bridgett Wilder)
Our health is always important. Especially in 2021.
After all, getting and staying healthy can help us fight COVID-19.
With this in mind, we talked with three Milwaukee-area experts about forming good nutrition and fitness habits for the new year and beyond.
‘Making room for the new’
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Bridgett Wilder, a licensed dietitian and counselor who founded PERSEVERANCE Health and Wellness Coaching, said the first step for generating change in your life is “making room for the new.”
In her programs, Wilder encourages people to “declutter” and try to get to the root cause of their eating habits. She said people are often stress-eating without even knowing. The first step is “tapping into what’s causing your weight problem.”
“Psychology and nutrition go hand in hand,” Wilder said.
Wilder said it’s important to get serious about health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heart disease and other factors associated with weight gain can cause an increased chance for mortality for COVID-19.
Wilder has had the coronavirus and says healthy habits helped her recover. For someone who worked to lose 170 pounds, the gravity was not lost on her.
“Things bounced off me that killed other people,” Wilder said.
Wilder didn’t have an easy life: She’s dealt with death in the family, homelessness, raising 10 children and going to school for psychology and nutrition. But she made changes in her life to lose the weight that threatened her life. She wants to impress upon others that they can, too, even if the situation isn’t optimal.
“Using what we have available is our way out,” Wilder said.
Wilder gave the following tips for people who are trying to establish a healthy diet:
Wilder said it’s important to pay attention to labels on food, as well: Finding canned goods that say “no sodium added” or “no sugar added” can make a difference.
Balancing your meals
Dr. Camille Garrison, an assistant professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin who specializes in family health, said the pandemic has made people more mindful of the meals they cook.
Garrison said people should try to balance their meals. Her suggested split is:
Garrison also said it is important to try new things in the vegetable aisle and to maximize the amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy you can get at the store. For someone trying to minimize shopping trips due to COVID-19, try getting a week’s worth of fresh produce and a week’s worth of frozen or canned produce at a time.
“Starting in the produce section is important, before the rest of the cart fills up,” Garrison said.
Finding healthy food
Makayla Emmer, a registered clinical dietitian with the Clinical Cancer Center at Froedtert Hospital, said people may be struggling with snacking due to having more access to food while sheltering in place. She suggests stocking the fridge with healthier options for snacking like nuts, hummus and apples with peanut butter.
For Wilder, a large part of the battle also is teaching people where to find fresh food in areas like the 53206 ZIP code, which she described as a “high food desert.”
She’s partnered with food pantries in the area as well as the Victory Garden Initiative, where residents can go and get fresh fruit and vegetables at no cost. Wilder has taught classes at food pantries showing people how to make healthy recipes with what they receive there.
Don’t forget exercise
Exercise also is key. Emmer said it is important to balance both nutrition and activity.
Garrison said the pandemic has actually given some people more opportunities to exercise. The pandemic led to an online explosion of Zumba, yoga classes, exercise-focused Facebook groups and even jump-rope squads.
While options for gyms and other settings may be limited right now, Emmer said it’s important to remain active in creative ways at home.
“You should focus on frequency rather than what you’re doing,” Emmer said.
At the end of the day, it’s all about incremental change, such as adjusting the way you shop and your eating habits, getting exercise, starting small and working your way up the ladder.
“People should set goals for themselves,” Emmer said. “Make little changes to their lifestyles.”
How to find help
Bridgett Wilder will be a new partner at Walnut Way Conservation Corp.’s Innovations and Wellness Commons starting Jan. 16. Anyone interested in contacting her can visit PERSEVERANCE Health and Wellness Coaching.


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50814513522_5f3463e427_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 14, 2021


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‘It is not my fight to surrender’: Read rousing words from the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest winners | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
January 15, 2021
The six winners attend schools throughout southeastern Wisconsin. (Photos courtesy of individual students)
Editor’s note: For the 38th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest, students throughout southeastern Wisconsin responded to the theme, “Keep Moving Forward,” from King’s address, “Keep Moving the Mountain” given at Spelman College in Atlanta on April 10, 1960.
Here, we’ve collected essays from the six age category winners. The writing contest is sponsored by the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Virtual Celebration, which takes place at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17. The event is presented by Bader Philanthropies in conjunction with the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
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Abdelrahman Kadadha is in 12th grade at Salam School.
Continual progress and development is a part of human nature. As time has passed by, humans have never stopped innovating and becoming smarter and more efficient. Discoveries and commonalities in the world today would have been considered witchcraft in previous centuries.
All the people in history who have had the courage to break down walls and do what was previously thought as impossible have gone down as legends. Their legacies are still brought to attention today. What separated these humans was that no matter the obstacles of their time, they continued to move forward and break barriers. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of these people, as he encountered many obstacles in his dream to eliminate racism. MLK preached that no matter the challenge, continuing to move forward and progress day-by-day will eventually get you closer to achieving what you were meant to achieve and become.
Complacency is a major issue overcoming many people today. They are satisfied with their position in life and what they have accomplished, so they stop setting goals. They stop their journey of continual self-improvement and settle down believing that they have done everything they can do. Humans are special in that there is no limit as to what we are capable of. Every person has strengths and weaknesses, but what people do not ever realize is that your weaknesses make you stronger. Meaning, by expanding on your weaknesses and turning them into strengths, your weaknesses are making you stronger. They are giving you a point where you can work and improve. This is why MLK preached that continuous improvement, even if small, should be a staple in everyday life.
Falling in love with the process is what will give you the motivation to always set new goals. In reality, by achieving your goals you will feel nothing but a dopamine release and then you are back to normal. Achieving your goals is not what makes you feel fulfilled, but rather it is the feeling of constantly improving yourself. That small dopamine release that is happening every time you get what you have been working for will only make you want to set new goals and work for something else. That constant chase for self-improvement and complete self-awareness is what will give you purpose and the drive to reach new heights.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one the greatest leaders in recent history and the impact he has had still reaches our youth today. His mission and vision inspire many and show that absolutely nothing is impossible. His message for constant improvement is some of the best advice you can give someone. To keep moving forward is to continually remind yourself that you can do anything you set your mind to. This constant drive and push for greatness is how we as a society will improve our circumstances and make life better for everyone.
Sa’maia Evans is in 10th grade at West Bend West High School.
Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. Dr. King proclaimed these words in an effort to emphasize how important it is to continuously progress regardless of the circumstances. Specifically, from a racial standpoint. He made it clear that it is crucial that we do not give up on our mission to achieve equality and peace for the Black man, the Black woman, Black child.
Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. As a Black child, I hear this phrase echoing in my head every day, reminding me not to give up on our fight for life. Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. I utter this phrase under my breath as I scroll through social media and see videos casually posted in which people of my complexion are being barbarically massacred.
Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. I remember this importance as I turn on the TV and watch as people like me are protesting all around the country in an effort to be heard, only to be tear-gassed and beaten by the people that are suppressors, our so-called protectors.
Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. I contemplate the legitimacy of this phrase as I read in the news that the president of my country, the man who is supposed to fight for the liberties of all American peoples, has declared that people like me are murderous, lazy thieves.
Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. This time I forget this phrase as I sit in my history class and listen to my white peers debate the validity of Black life. The validity of my life.
I know that we are supposed to keep moving forward, but it is easy to forget sometimes. We’ve been fighting for equality and pushing to move forward for so long. We’ve been suffering in this white society as we’ve been killed, persecuted, hunted, raped, ridiculed and invalidated based upon the color of our skin from day one. But how long do we have to fight? How long do we have to constantly prove our humanity and keep pushing forward until we can rest? Until we can finally sit and take a breath without having to worry about being shot in the back for breathing?
At many times, it seems relieving to give up in this everlasting strife. But then I remember that it is not my fight to surrender. I remember to keep moving forward for all of those who came before me, and all of those to come after. We must keep pushing because we’ve come this far, and it would be unfair to not only ourselves, but to those who depend on us, to give up when we need to resist the most.
The fight is not over, and we must keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward so our children can see better days.
Victoria Kona is in seventh grade at the Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language.
There is only one thing that you can do when faced with obstacles throughout your life: Keep Moving Forward. To me, that means not dwelling on the past, but always looking toward the future. It means making the most out of every situation, whether good or bad.
I think of my grandmother. She was the best grandmother ever, which I know everyone says, but she really was. When she visited from Maheba, we would travel to the market together. We would buy food to cook authentic African meals and I would always ask for chocolate at the end of our trips. She would respond with, “Should we get some for your sister, too?” That was my grandmother — always thinking of everyone.
She taught me how to be a strong, independent young woman, which was forbidden for her in the times she grew up in. For her, she was told what to do, how to act, and what to wear. She did not want that for me, and she taught me how to be confident and sure of myself and my worth.
My grandmother died not so long ago. It was the saddest moment of my life. I was not there to see her or hear her last words. I cried a lot, but I knew that is not what she would have wanted me to do — she was such a happy person. I knew that I had to keep moving forward and not look back in the past with sadness, but rather happiness of the memories made.
But, as I came to realize, saying that and doing that were two different things. It took me a while to figure out what moving forward really meant. At first, I started off not thinking about her death and pretending it didn’t happen. But that just left me with an emptiness inside.
So, I knew I had to make some changes. I surrounded myself with my family. I started to journal all of my feelings to help me remember my grandmother. I made a list of all the qualities that my grandmother was: kind, funny, smart.
Now, every time I am kind to a stranger, I remember my grandmother. Now, every time I make my mother laugh during dinner, I remember my grandmother. Now, every time I put in hard work on an assignment, I remember my grandmother.
Moving forward without her next to me was not easy, but with time, I have started to figure it out.
Through my grandmother’s death, I have learned and lived the true meaning of “keep moving forward.” I’ve learned how to continue living life, through all of its obstacles.
Cornell Penager Davidson is in sixth grade at Fernwood Montessori.
IF YOU CAN’T FLY THEN RUN . . .
When I think of the most important things in my life, I think about my past, my present and my future. My past because I have family members who believe in me, guide me and help me make decisions. My present because I face challenges every day and must make decisions about them, not knowing if these decisions will affect the rest of my life. My future because I know it has been about one hundred years since members of my family faced a worldwide pandemic. These realities are not an excuse to keep me from my goals. I am inspired by Dr Martin Luther King to keep fighting against obstacles and difficulties. I truly believe in his message to keep moving forward.
IF YOU CAN’T RUN THEN WALK . . .
My family taught me to be proud of my work whether it was a large task or a small task. I was taught to study and give myself enough time to complete the job. I believe this can be applied to students and to society. What holds us back is that we don’t always know what’s next. It is easy to fear the unknown, but how can I give up when I know that people before me overcame slavery, racial segregation, violence and unfair treatment just to be recognized as being fully human or get access to a good education or exercise the right to vote. They faced life threatening challenges. I learned from them that what they went through was difficult but not permanent.
IF YOU CAN’T WALK THEN CRAWL . . .
Today, I watch the news of the present and it looks frightening. America’s vision is to be the promised land but with incidents like Gorge Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Emmett Till, this seems to not be the case. This vision can be achieved using small steps, focusing on one problem at a time. This way, the solution will be clear and we can keep moving forward. You can’t get anywhere without knowing your goal. You can’t know your goal unless you take steps toward it. You can’t take steps towards your goal with negative thinking and being around negative people. And you will never reach your goal if you don’t learn from your mistakes.
“But whatever you do, you have to .”-Dr Martin Luther King
Isabella Krieger Silva is in fourth grade at Fernwood Montessori.
COVID-19 is the reason many people are sad. When we walk along the street or in the park, people walk away from each other. We are divided, we are scared of each other. The sad part is that people of color experience this — people look at them differently, walking away, closing their hearts and minds.
I used to think I couldn’t do anything about this. “It’s just little me,” I thought to myself, “What can I do?” I realized I was wrong because everybody contributes to justice. I’m responsible for my little percentage, and you too — it’s yours to change, take it!
In 1960, Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Keep moving, for it may well be that the greatest song has not yet been sung, the greatest book has not yet been written, the highest mountain has not been climbed.” I agree. It is “our” challenge, we need to see each other. We need to see “all” students — the poor, the elderly, the homeless and the sick. Make the invisible visible, so we can heal our community. As Frank L. Gaines said, “Only people who can see the invisible can do the impossible.”
We must start with ourselves. Be kind! Let’s bring art to our sidewalks, write a poem, have conversations, be brave and stand for what is right.
You can’t wait for others to begin. We all have power. I have a special power — I’m a biracial girl. Some people give a label and I’m so much more than that — I am an artist, a gymnast, an actress, a dancer, and, yes, I’m bilingual. I’m proud of my two cultures.
We need to see “equity” as a verb. We need to do something. As Dr. King said, “We must keep moving. If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl; but by all means keep moving . . . to Keep Moving Forward.”
This is still true today in our society. Many people need to heal, to move forward. Everyone has power, we are making history as we speak. Take your power to talk about race, equity and justice to build the future and move forward.
Leslie White is in third grade at Golda Meir Elementary.
My theme is, “Keep moving forward.” Something that is a barrier this year is COVID-19.
My reason to overcome this barrier is to keep my family safe. I do that by cleaning desk tops and wearing masks at all times when my family is in a big group. I have a very, very big family and I don’t get to see them often, but we video chat when we can. On Thanksgiving, all of us were there. We get so happy when we see each other.
Another barrier is going to school on a computer. It’s hard not getting to see my new classmates and teachers. The Wi-Fi gets bad when the weather is bad and I have to do my homework on a computer and not on paper. I don’t get to play on the playground or go outside with the fresh air and feel the wind blowing in my hair. I get to stay home in bed sometimes and I know that this won’t last forever.
Martin Luther King Jr. gave great speeches about equal rights and peace. Some people wanted that too and others didn’t want to have equal rights. Martin Luther King Jr. helped change their minds. That is another thing that was great about his speeches. He helped change the world and made people believe they could always keep moving forward.


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2-3 20200509_111937 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 14, 2021


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kingdayessays2021 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 14, 2021