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Public funding shrinking for Milwaukee neighborhood-based services | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Public Policy Forum
August 4, 2015
A report released today by the Milwaukee-based Public Policy Forum examines trends in public funding for several programs deemed critical to community development in low-income City of Milwaukee neighborhoods. The analysis finds that funding for most programs has decreased in both real and inflationary terms, intensifying pressure on community-based organizations to find efficiencies and on private philanthropy to fill the gap.
“Annual funding totals are at least 10% lower now than they were before the recession for seven of the nine programs we examined,” says the report. “While we did not analyze data regarding the number of households or individuals served by every program, and while our analysis did not examine the extent to which service providers were able to replace lost public funding with funding from other sources, it is reasonable to assume that those funding cuts resulted in service reductions for several of the programs.”
The report was commissioned by the Zilber Family Foundation and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County in response to concerns raised by neighborhood-based organizations regarding the stability of key public funding sources that support their programs. In an attempt to verify and quantify those concerns, the Forum examined public funding trends for nine heavily utilized programs in three broad service categories: housing and development; education and workforce development; and health and human services.
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The programs included in the analysis were selected based on conversations with community development leaders in the three Milwaukee neighborhoods served by the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative – Clarke Square, Lindsay Heights, and Layton Boulevard West. They are:
For each program, the report provides information on how government appropriations at the federal and state levels make their way to Milwaukee and its neighborhoods and how funding for services in Milwaukee have been impacted in recent years by overall programmatic cuts or increases. The timeframe used – 2007 to 2015 – is long enough to illustrate funding changes that have occurred from before the Great Recession to the present.
“The boards of directors of the Zilber Family Foundation and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County are committed to meeting basic human needs and improving the quality of life in Milwaukee neighborhoods. The data in this Public Policy Forum report show that, in tough economic times, public/private partnerships are needed to ensure that vital services are available to communities,” said Susan Lloyd, executive director of the Zilber Family Foundation.
Other key findings from the report included the following:
While reduced appropriations tell part of the story, the re-direction of federal or state dollars from Milwaukee to other parts of the state also is a factor. For some Milwaukee programs, funding decreased despite increased appropriations at the federal and/or state level. The recession increased the ranks of those deemed to be low-income throughout Wisconsin. Since many of the programs examined in the report serve low-income households, that factor produced a shift of funding away from Milwaukee and toward other areas of the state.
To sustain current service levels, efforts will be needed to supplement declining federal resources with local public funding, private sector support, or through service innovations. This is already happening for some programs. For example, the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board has grown its overall budget despite declining federal workforce dollars, Milwaukee Public Schools contributes annual funding to afterschool programs to supplement declining federal funds, and Milwaukee County’s Behavioral Health Division has blended some mental health and substance abuse services to offset expired federal grants. Even for those programs, however, additional solutions may be needed if there is a desire to maintain services at current levels.
“It is important to recognize that trends in public funding tell only part of the story when it comes to assessing the capacity of community-based agencies and local governments to effectively deliver needed services to Milwaukee neighborhoods,” says the report . “Service capacity also can be impacted by program efficiency, amounts spent on overhead, programmatic innovations, and a variety of other factors that go beyond dollars and cents.”
“Nevertheless, we can conclude from this analysis that reports of steadily shrinking public sector appropriations for community-based services in Milwaukee are more than anecdotal. Consequently, there may be an increasing need for philanthropists and/or other private sources to fill at least part of the void.”
The full report can be downloaded at the Forum’s web site, www.publicpolicyforum.org.

author: Public Policy Forum


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Annual freedom essay scholarship contest deadline extended | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
August 5, 2015
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs’ 8th Annual Freedom Scholarship Essay Contest for 2015 has extended its deadline. The contest encourages students to put into words what the concept of “freedom” means to them and how they can combat and prevent prejudice, discrimination, and violence in our world today.
The extended deadline for the scholarship competition is Thursday, August 20, 2015. Alderwoman Coggs highlighted the importance of giving young people the opportunity to express their reflections about freedom in a way that can benefit themselves and society. “By granting our youth this opportunity to have a voice, we are showing them the impact they can have on this city, setting them up to become productive adults and leaders in Milwaukee,” she said.
Two scholarships will be awarded and excerpts from winning essays may be published, Alderwoman Coggs added.
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For more details, contact Akuwa Dantzler at (414) 286-8640. Applications available online at www.city.milwaukee.gov/district6 – and must be returned and postmarked by the new deadline, August 20, 2015.

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: August 5, 2015

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

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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Children’s Community Health Plan to support Fondy Food Center to increase the amount of fresh produce for eligible consumers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
August 5, 2015
Children’s Community Health Plan is joining a Fondy Food Center- led program to double the amount of fresh produce that eligible consumers can buy with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, at the Fondy Farmers Market. Customers using vouchers from SNAP – also known as FoodShare – or the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program will be able to purchase more produce because of the match provided by this program.
“Incentive programs are a win-win all around – people will get more fresh vegetables, and small farmers will see an increase in their sales, making them more economically sustainable for the long term” said Young Kim, executive director of Fondy Food Center.
Fondy Food Center, which works to fill the need for fresh, locally-grown food on Milwaukee’s north side, has been offering a match for SNAP and WIC for years but the popular program has run out of funds quickly– in 2014, $20,000 in WIC match dollars were used in two weeks. The expansion of the match program to include SNAP participants is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Wholesome Wave, with additional support from Children’s Community Health Plan, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and others.
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“Children’s Community Health Plan is pleased to support this farmers market incentive program, because it supports the health of community members,” said Mark Rakowski, Children’s Community Health Plan vice president. “Incentive programs across the country have been shown to increase participants’ consumption of fruits and vegetables.”
SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.
Children’s Community Health Plan to support Fondy Food Center to increase the amount of fresh produce for eligible consumers
Since 2000, Fondy Food Center has been committed to its mission of connecting neighborhoods to fresh local food – from farm to market to table – so that children learn better, people live healthier, and communities embrace cultural food traditions. The funds issued to Fondy Food Center will increase affordable access to fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP consumers in Milwaukee, while also supporting local agriculture.
About Children’s Community Health Plan
Children’s Community Health Plan, a member of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, is an HMO dedicated to providing access to the highest-quality health care and services to individuals of all ages covered by the BadgerCare Plus program. With the combined resources of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Children’s Community Services, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin- Primary Care and community partners, Children’s Community Health Plan is committed to improving the medical and social well-being of its members and the community.

author: Children's Hospital of Wisconsin


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Housing First initiative challenges assumptions of homelessness | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
August 5, 2015
Carl and Annie, a homeless couple, take a police escort from Kosciuszko Park to St. Ben’s Church in downtown Milwaukee. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Carl and Annie, a middle-aged homeless couple, stand on a hill in Kosciuszko Park, each wrapped in what resembles a thin, white hospital blanket. There is a chill in the late July air, enough to warrant covering up, but not enough to deter the mosquitoes, which they abandoned their wooded campsite to escape.
Carl recently landed in a hospital emergency room, an occurrence that has become more frequent since his health has increasingly declined after being stabbed with a screwdriver about a year and a half ago. He said emergency medical crews had come for him twice the day before. Carl has diabetes, recently experienced a stroke and is taking four different medications.
Carl and Annie are a blip on the radar, only two of the thousands of homeless identified throughout the city and surrounding areas by Milwaukee Continuum of Care’s semi-annual Point in Time Count. The count, which takes place the last week of January and July, is required and used to determine funding, both local and federal, for organizations serving Milwaukee’s homeless population.
The recent July count focused on identifying individuals who are “chronically homeless” — they have been homeless for a year or more, have experienced at least four episodes of homelessness over the last three years and have a disability. The emphasis on this population was a result of a new focus by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and a recent shift in Milwaukee County policy in addressing homelessness. The strategy called “Housing First,” which started July 1, seeks to get chronically homeless individuals off the street and in a stable situation before attempting to address other issues such as drug or alcohol abuse and employment.
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Housing First is about “prioritizing [the] chronically homeless,” said Nancy Monarrez, director of the Milwaukee Homeless Management Information System. “They need housing so that they have an address, they can go to work … and start working toward something.”
Milwaukee Police Department Homeless Outreach Team Officer Chad Stiles (left) and a Point-in-Time volunteer gather water, blankets and other supplies. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Annie and Carl have been together for nine years and have been homeless for at least the past six. Both have struggled with heavy alcohol abuse. Annie listed a number of previous jobs. She worked at gas stations, as a cashier, at a Ponderosa and at a casino. Carl has worked “on and off,” though not more recently than last year, at Joe’s Bait Shop across the street from the park. Ken Biskupski, the shop’s owner, said Carl was “a hell of a worker.”
“It’s not like they don’t want to work,” said Chad Stiles, of Carl and Annie. Stiles, who is part of the Milwaukee Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team, said “every case is very different” but the majority of chronically homeless individuals have “some type of mental health issues” and “their story is multi-layered.”
“Homelessness is typically secondary to mental health, substance abuse, economic problems,” said Stiles. “A lot of times, they’ve had some type of trauma in the past.”
Those issues can be persistent barriers to getting chronically homeless people off the street. In some cases, it’s taken more than a year to get an individual in housing, Stiles said. He cited a distrust of police, bad experiences in a shelter and reluctance to stop drinking or doing drugs as reasons some homeless individuals would prefer to stay where they are.
“Research has shown that a client is much more likely to maintain their housing, less likely to go back into [a] homeless situation, if they have that supportive service piece attached to their housing. But you don’t make it a [requirement],” said Monarrez. “A lot of times, they’re just not ready. So, when you’re forcing someone, you’re making them get clean or go into detox, they’re likely to start using again, they’re likely to fall off the wagon.”
“The number one thing is that housing piece. A roof over their head can give them so much more stability than being out in the elements,” she said. “Once they get into housing, a case manager can work with them.”
Stiles said getting off the street is “not just a simple fix for a lot of these folks.” He’s confident the Housing First model will benefit Milwaukee’s homeless.
“In other cities … when they have someone that’s drinking and get them into housing their drinking decreases naturally because they’re not under the [stress] of living on the street.”
Monarrez said an important aspect of addressing chronic homelessness was realizing that everyone has different barriers to housing and that “putting rules in place really didn’t work.”
Gretchen Williams, 54, has been homeless for two months as a result of losing her job. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
Eric Collins-Dyke, outreach services manager with Milwaukee County’s housing division, one of three people working primarily on the Housing First initiative, said he hopes the program can “move the paradigm (for addressing homelessness) forward.” He also noted that Milwaukee’s adoption of the strategy puts it ahead of most other cities, nationwide.
The Johnston Center, 2150 S. 13th St., where Carl and Annie are on a 17-person waiting list, fills vacancies as they occur, said Khandi Gibson, the assistant property manager. She said any empty units are usually filled by the beginning of the month after they become available but wasn’t sure how long it would take to be approved if someone were to apply today. The units only accommodate single individuals.
Collins-Dyke said the county’s goal is to serve a total of 300 people over a three-year period and to have chronically homeless individuals placed in private housing within 72 hours of making contact. There are already 70 people “ready to go,” said Collins-Dyke, but only three or four have been housed so far because of hesitancy from landlords, who are not required to accept the vouchers being used to pay for the program. He said they “expect to make a big push next week.”
“Ninety percent of landlords tell me ‘no,'” said Collins-Dyke.
The Housing First initiative received $1.8 million in funding for its first year, from the city, the city housing authority and the county.
“We’re doing what we can,” Collins-Dyke said. “We understand we’re just scratching the surface.”
According to Monarrez, Milwaukee’s chronically homeless population is fewer than 500, less than one-third of all homeless individuals. The Milwaukee Continuum of Care 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, which was introduced in 2008, supports “seeking permanent housing opportunities through Housing First mechanisms for any and all homeless persons.”
“You may have some population that’s homeless and … because you have to abide by HUD rules, if you’re staying with friends, you’re not considered homeless,” Monarrez said. “Unfortunately it’s just the way that it is.”
Gretchen Williams, 54, has been homeless for two months. Williams, who has done home care work since 2007, lost her job two months before becoming homeless. She was at Albright United Methodist Church, one of four mostly empty “cooling rooms” set up for the night, and hoped to leave with resources to help her find work, which she said was the largest obstacle for her to find housing.
Collins-Dyke said it is a moral responsibility to have services and resources in place to help people experiencing homelessness, regardless of whether they are chronically homeless. He acknowledged the line between those who are chronically homeless and those who are not is nuanced and “so varied it’s mind-boggling.” He said that he hopes the federal definition will eventually get more lenient.
“It’ll bust down the door of who we can serve,” Collins-Dyke said.
He also hopes that in 20 or 30 years Milwaukee can get to the point where the homeless population is at or near “actual zero.” It would take “more sectors of our system” getting involved in the issue to achieve that goal, he added.
While the preliminary indication is that July’s count may be lower than January’s, Monarrez said the next count should provide a much clearer picture of how Housing First is faring. “I sure hope that our numbers are much lower in January.”
Winter was already on Annie’s mind too — she talked about getting a generator to power a heater for the couple. Though Stiles recommended she and Carl get in touch with Collins-Dyke, he said he hadn’t yet received a call. Whether Carl and Annie are able to find a place and how soon could make all the difference.
“His health has gotten worse,” said Biskupski, who still sees Carl every now and then. “One day, you’re gonna miss him — he’s probably going to be dead.
“It’s just a matter of time now, I think.”

author: Jabril Faraj


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 4, 2015

created: August 4, 2015

author: Adam Carr


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How to make sure your child succeeds in school | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Beverly Anderson, Ebenezer Child Care Centers
August 5, 2015
Acelero Learning (Photo by Patrick Leary)
Get to know your children’s teachers and school
Make an effort to introduce yourself to your child’s teachers. Let them know that you take his or her education seriously, and that they can come to you with any concerns. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers questions about your children’s performance in class or interactions with other children. If you reach out to teachers, they will feel more comfortable reaching out to you. The goal is to create a partnership with your children’s teachers, so they can be as successful as possible.
Help your children set educational goals
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Setting educational goals can be a fun activity. It also encourages children to envision their future. You can set short-term as well as long-term educational goals with help from teachers. Ask your children what they want to be when they grow up, and explain how doing well in school will help them achieve their dreams.
Talk to your children about what they are learning at school
Communicating openly about school is one of the best ways to ensure that your children are on the right track. Discussing school early on will help your children feel comfortable talking to you during the more difficult high school years. It will allow you to determine which areas your children are doing well in and where they may need more help. It can also help you find out what your children are passionate about.
Emphasize the value of homework
Making homework a priority is an essential part of achieving success in school. One of the best ways to do this is to create rules. For example, you and your children could establish “homework time,” at a specific time of day. You could also create a rule requiring that homework be done before your children are allowed to watch TV or play video games.
Another way to stress the significance of homework is by providing an environment conducive to studying. This means creating a quiet area with no distractions. It should contain all of the supplies that your children need to complete their assignments. If possible, this study area should be used only for studying and can be a special area specifically for your children.
Encourage independence
It may be difficult watching your children struggle with homework problems, but it is important to give them a chance to solve problems before offering help. This can provide the confidence they need to solve more complex problems on their own.
Encourage your children to read
The ability to read well and understand what is being read are two of the most valuable skills a child can develop. Encourage your children to read for fun and teach them the importance of understanding a paragraph before moving on to the next one. These tips will not only help your children be successful in school, but in life as well.
Encourage learning year-round
Encouraging your children to learn during summer and winter breaks will help them retain the information they learned during the previous school year and prep them for the upcoming year. However, there has to be a balance. During breaks from school, emphasize fun, active learning. Take a trip to the library to let your children pick out books they are interested in or visit local museums. Take nature hikes and identify birds and plants. Find out what your children are passionate about and help them explore it.
Lead by example
You are your children’s best teacher. If you show an interest in learning, your children will too. Show your children how cool it is to be smart. Encourage them to ask you questions while you are performing tasks such as cooking or changing the oil in your car. These are learning experiences, so take advantage of them.
Education is one of the most important investments you can make for your children. The attention you give your children can spark enthusiasm and encourage them to achieve their dreams.


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Amid chaos, signs of life in city’s neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 6, 2015
jsonline.com

created: August 6, 2015

author: Andrea Waxman


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COA set to open new early education center in Amani | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 6, 2015
Burke Center teachers (left): Terrica Campbell and Madelyne Evans (right) and volunteer Ebony Anderson (center) prepare bulletin boards for the new classrooms. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
COA Youth & Family Services is set to open its new Burke Early Education Center (EEC) in the Amani neighborhood on Friday, Aug. 7. An official opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the EEC, located at the COA Goldin Center, 2320 W. Burleigh St.
The center currently is enrolling children ages 6 weeks through 6 years and expects to open its doors to children on Aug. 17, according to Jeannie Diffley, COA’s director of early education.
The Burke Center program is largely modeled on COA’s long-established Riverwest Early Education Center at 909 E. Garfield Ave.
Burke EEC staff members are receiving special training to help address trauma-related issues affecting families in Amani, according to the center’s director, Ashley Harrell.
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Burke Center Early Education Director Ashley Harrell (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
“We are preparing teachers for the difficult situations that might come through the door,” Harrell said.
Harrell noted that problems parents struggle with affect their children. Her experience working in a K-6 school in a low-income neighborhood taught her that the best way to help students is to build relationships with their parents and work with the whole family, she added.
Harrell previously co-directed COA’s HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), a literacy and school-readiness program for children ages 3 to 5 years old.
“Ashley is deeply connected to the families. She loves walking the streets, talking to the people … she really wants to transform the area,” said Diffley.
COA’s early education centers are different from other programs because they offer services to the whole family, Diffley explained. “We’re a family center within a community. We serve kids from birth all the way through the teens, as well as the core family,” she said.
“Let’s say a family suddenly becomes homeless. We have all sorts of resources to help that family overcome some of their obstacles. We don’t look at just early education. … We want to try to hug the whole family,” Diffley added.
Several mothers at a recent Goldin Center Family Resource Center drop-in program expressed enthusiasm about the new center.
Deja Hamilton, who has a 2-year-old son, said she has had trouble finding reliable babysitters. She is pleased at the prospect of taking her children to the Burke EEC, which is conveniently located on the same bus line that she takes to work each day. She visited recently and said, “It was nice. It reminded me of when I went to elementary school.”
Hamilton discovered the Goldin Center last fall through its clinic when she sought medical attention for her son, Marleik, who had bronchitis. She was introduced to the Family Resource Center then and has brought her son and 1-year-old daughter almost every day since, she said.
“I just can’t wait for (the Burke Center) to open,” said Nyisha Griffen, of Amani. “I want to be involved in everything that’s coming (my son’s) way in life,” she added. Griffin takes her 2-year-old son to the Family Resource Center regularly for drop-in sessions.
Riverwest EEC is one of a small number of childcare centers in Milwaukee that is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It also holds a five-star YoungStar rating, the highest given by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
Like the Riverwest EEC, Burke will be an Early Head Start facility. Early Head Start is designed to increase the number of low-income children from birth to 3 years old receiving high-quality, comprehensive early education services.
Parents with low incomes may be eligible for full or partial assistance with the center’s fees through Early Head Start or Wisconsin Shares.
The Burke center can accommodate 116 children and 31 are currently enrolled, Diffley said. Harrell said she hopes enrollment will reach full capacity by the end of the year.
COA built the new center with a $2 million capital grant from the Burke Foundation as well as support from the Richard & Ethel Herzfeld Foundation.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 5, 2015


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 6, 2015


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Dems Float Bill To Let Undocumented Immigrants Drive In Wisconsin | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 6, 2015
Wisconsin Public Radio


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New Center Brings Police Closer to People | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 6, 2015
UrbanMilwaukee.com


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Paid internship opportunity with Business, Community, and Family Partnership Department at MPS | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Schools
August 6, 2015
The Milwaukee Public Schools Department of Business, Community, and Family Partnerships is responsible for ensuring the business community, MPS’s community partners, and district families have a single point of contact to facilitate meaningful interactions with the district to enhance student academic success and the well-being of students and families.
We are currently seeking an intern to begin in August/September to assist with the set-up and implementation of the Department and its programs. Specifically, the intern will assist with the following:
The position would be between 20-30 hours a week with pay between $15-17 per hour and is expected to run through June 2016. Majors in the areas of Public and Non-profit Administration, Business Administration, Communication, Urban Studies, and Public Health are encouraged to apply. Please forward a resume and cover letter to Joe’Mar Hooper, Director of Business, Community, and Family Partnerships at hooperjj@milwaukee.k12.wi.us to apply.
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author: Milwaukee Public Schools


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The Artery: Breathing Life Into Abandoned Milwaukee Rail Corridor Creates Community Space | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 6, 2015
WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio


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Music, art highlight Bronzeville cultural festival | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
August 7, 2015
Art that appealed to every age group could be found at the festival, including face paint for children. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
Janette Herrera, a lifelong resident of Bronzeville and self-proclaimed historian, enjoyed the musical performances at the Bronzeville Cultural and Arts Festival as she reminisced about her historic neighborhood. She described Bronzeville’s thriving social, cultural and economic state when she was younger. She pointed to where the first black library used to be, where the grocery store, social center and popular barbershops were. She spoke of the great jazz musicians that used to play down the street.
“This is all significant. Everything is significant… This is history. A lot of young people don’t know about it, and they need to know about it. That’s why we’re here today,” she said.
The festival kicked off the third annual Bronzeville Week put on by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and Friends of Bronzeville. Coggs referred to historic Bronzeville as a “bustling hub of culture, arts and entertainment and of course, commerce” and said she hopes that the week of celebration “brings that flavor and energy back, but with activities and events that emphasize a hopeful future for the district.”
Artaska Aquino takes the stage to celebrate Bronzeville’s rich musical history, which made it a regular stop for legendary jazz musicians such as Billie Holliday and Duke Ellington. (Photo by Allison Dikanovic)
The stretch of North Avenue from Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive down to 7 Street was filled with food vendors, artistic displays, booths from local organizations and shops selling brightly colored African-inspired clothing, jewelry and beauty products. The local band Cigarette Break headlined the festival, and one of two stages was dedicated to gospel music.
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Bronzeville Week has been packed with events such as a neighborhood cleanup, health checkup, business summit, networking mixer, softball game, bike ride and poetry breakfast. In addition to honoring the culture and arts of the neighborhood, Bronzeville Week aims to promote area businesses, and serve residents and families.
“We really wanted to have something for everybody,” said Jamie Montgomery-Baker, of Friends of Bronzeville.
“It’s important to us that we maintain the history and carry it through for our children and create that legacy so they understand where they come from, while also carrying it into the future,” said Montgomery-Baker. She explained that at the turn of the 20 century into the mid-20 century, Milwaukee’s African-American population was concentrated in and around Bronzeville because of segregation.
“All of this area is significant because we were limited. This was the area where black folks were developing businesses… We weren’t allowed to go anywhere else,” said Herrera.
Herrera said she hopes that Bronzeville Week will further develop a sense of community pride in younger generations. “It’s important for them to know that we need to stay here. We need to support the black businesses here, and we need to support each other.”

created: August 7, 2015

author: Allison Dikanovic


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On the Block: Live and let live | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
August 7, 2015
Read more about George Reeves at milwaukeestories.org.


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City helps students get ready for school with free health screenings | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Allison Dikanovic
August 9, 2015
The City of Milwaukee Health Department hosted the annual Back-to-School Health Fair at North Division High School, which provided children with required immunizations, blood lead testing, vision and dental screenings. A resource fair and distribution of school supplies rounded out the event. Another health fair will be held on Friday, Aug. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bradley Tech High School, 700 S. 4th St.

created: August 9, 2015


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Alderwoman Coggs announces winner of Bronzeville Public Art Contest | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
August 10, 2015
is pleased to announce the winner of the who will receive a $20,000 grant to implement his proposal and maintain it for a period of at least 18 months.
“I’m astounded at the depth of talent displayed by those competing in this contest, and I’m grateful for their interest,” Alderwoman Coggs said. “Mr. Nsoroma is an accomplished artist who has created works around the country. His new project in Bronzeville—the first of several such projects we have planned—is sure to be a source of pride for the neighborhood.”
Mr. Nsoroma will begin the process of installing his proposed bronze-colored statue on September 12, 2015 in the city-owned vacant lot next to
A number of renowned local artists took part in the competition. They were asked to submit a design sketch along with a proposed budget for the assembly and removal of their work, as well as samples of their previous work and a description of their connection to the Bronzeville area. Finalists were called in for interviews where their preliminary design concepts were evaluated.
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Mr. Nsoroma has more than 25 years of experience as a public artist, having studied at both the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has more than 80 murals to his credit, including pieces in Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as well as his hometown of Milwaukee.
“Bronzeville provided a space for me to learn and mature creatively as a young artist, and my work would honor that connection,” Mr. Nsoroma wrote in his proposal.


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Arts @ Large exhibit explores history of civil rights and baseball | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 10, 2015
Dennis Biddle, founder of Yesterday’s Negro League Baseball Players LLC, will occasionally guide tours of the “Civil Rights and Baseball,” exhibit at Arts @ Large Gallery, 905 S. 5th St. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Sporting a Chicago American Giants baseball cap, Dennis Biddle, who at 17 became the youngest player on record to ever play in a Negro League baseball game, points to a montage of photos featuring baseball players he once played with.
“That’s Bobby Robinson and that’s Ted “Double Duty” Ratcliffe,” said Biddle, who’s now 80 years old.
With a sense of urgency, he spins off story after story about the history and downfall of the league, which he played in until signing with the Chicago Cubs in 1955.
“I share these stories with the youngsters because I don’t want them to be lost forever,” said Biddle, founder of Yesterday’s Negro League Baseball Players, LLC.
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Mike Greer and Celia, Evey and Andrea Skyberg meet with former professional baseball player Joyce Westerman during the grand opening of the exhibit. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Biddle and Joyce Westerman, a player for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, shared their stories with students from six area schools working with Arts @ Large this summer. The students learned how Negro League players worked to overcome racism and how women kept baseball in the public eye during World War II by playing in a league of their own.
Over several months, the students used what they learned about the minority influence in baseball to create original artwork, displayed alongside a traveling memorabilia collection about the Negro League, as well as personal photos provided by Westerman. The exhibit, “Civil Rights and Baseball,” will run at the Arts @ Large Gallery, 905 S. 5 St., until Oct. 1.
The student work, which was guided by local artists and art education students from Cardinal Stritch University, includes original drawings, large painted cutouts of Negro League stars and other works.
The goal was for kids to “learn about and then express visually how minorities shaped the game and also created opportunities for others after them,” said Brianna Dorney, communications and curation specialist at Arts @ Large.
The idea for the exhibit came from representatives of the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee, which also currently has a baseball-themed exhibit, said Dorney.
Kelli McCalligan, a third-year art and secondary education student at Cardinal Stritch University, helped students from West Side Academy II use a projection system to create large cutouts of historical baseball figures for the exhibit.
Students from Westside Academy II worked with artists to create large cutouts featuring Negro League stars. (Photo courtesy of Brianna Dorney)
After completing the line work, students labeled each section of the drawing, mixed paint and then colored them, said McCalligan. Even for the youth, the process of creating museum-quality pieces was quick and very engaging, she said.
“I think art makes it easier for the kids to express what they learned in the process of researching the baseball players,” McCalligan said.
After hearing Biddle speak, the students promptly asked to create a cutout of him, said McCalligan, which is titled, “Youngest player in Negro League history.”
Biddle vividly recalls being a teenager and hearing that the St. Louis Cardinals were going to make him a first round pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
“It was the most disappointing day in my life,” said Biddle, who turned down two college baseball scholarships before going undrafted.
And though his race kept him from being drafted then, it also allowed him the opportunity to play in the Negro League, which he cherishes.
“There’s only 59 of us left,” said Biddle of living players from the league, adding, “We’ve got to pass down our history so it will never be forgotten.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 8, 2015

created: August 8, 2015


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 9, 2015


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19797691778_39d52f1349_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 8, 2015


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Assembly Task Force To Examine Urban School Issues | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 10, 2015
Wisconsin Public Radio


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Federal freeze on juvenile justice grant hits crime prevention efforts | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 10, 2015
jsonline.com


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LISC selects Laura Bray as new executive director | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LISC Milwaukee
August 10, 2015
(Photo by Edgar Mendez)
LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) announced today that Laura Bray has been hired as the new executive director for the Milwaukee office. Bray has a 20-year career in community and economic development, and served as the executive director for the successful Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc. from 2004-2014. In this role Bray led public and private partners in catalytic redevelopment the Menomonee Valley, resulting in the 300 acres of remediated brownfields, 39 new or expanded businesses offering 5,000 jobs, a 50 acre park and a 12 mile bike/pedestrian trail system. Prior to the Valley, Bray worked for the City of Milwaukee’s Department of City Development, the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp., the Consensus Organizing Institute, and for a two-year project with LISC in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  A graduate Marquette University, Bray began her career as a community organizer through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
“I am honored to join LISC and am excited to work in partnership to revitalize neighborhoods throughout the city,” said Bray. “There are a lot of opportunities out there right now. The economy is stabilizing. There is strong neighborhood leadership. The City has a new economic plan. The corporate and philanthropic community is investing in targeted neighborhood development strategies.  Because of LISC’s national-local structure, and deep partnerships across sectors here in Milwaukee, I’m very optimistic about our ability to drive investment and impact.”
LISC’s national CEO, Michael Rubinger said, “LISC is a proud partner in the work to revitalize Milwaukee neighborhoods.  We are excited to have Laura on board with her strong community ties and proven track record to realize transformative change. We are committed to deepen the investments in Milwaukee’s neighborhoods in the years ahead through financial and program support that meets Milwaukee’s opportunities and needs. “
Since 1995, LISC and its affiliates have invested more than $123 million in Milwaukee, generating more than $368 million in development. To date, LISC has assisted 110 community-based organizations, and financed more than 2,300 houses and apartments and more than 1.4 million square feet of commercial and community space locally. Over time, LISC Milwaukee has built a comprehensive portfolio of programs including community safety, income and wealth building, commercial revitalization, and leadership development. LISC is also recognized for its Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI) and other educational opportunities that build support for the central city.
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“Laura brings years of experience in community and economic development and a strong base of cross-sector partnerships to her new role at LISC” said Lisa Glover, chairwoman of LISC Milwaukee’s advisory board and member of the LISC National board of directors. “She is strategic and passionate about her hometown of Milwaukee. Laura’s vision for the future of LISC and the city will make her extremely effective as our new executive director.”
Laura Bray follows Leo J. Ries who served as LISC’s executive director from 2000-2015.
LISC’s national office selected the new executive director with the support of the local advisory board.

author: LISC Milwaukee


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 10, 2015


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Program Teaches Milwaukee Kids to Grow, Prepare and Eat Fresh Fruits and Vegetables | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 10, 2015
WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio


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The Resurrection of America’s Slums | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 10, 2015
The Atlantic


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Event raises awareness of obesity in Native American community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Madeline Kennedy
August 11, 2015
A group of children listen to a presentation about the importance of living an active and healthy lifestyle. (Photo by Madeline Kennedy)
Milwaukee’s Native American community gathered recently at Kosciusko Park on the city’s South Side to raise awareness about childhood obesity, a large issue for the community, according to experts at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center.
Hosted by the health center, the third annual Fight Childhood Obesity event offered children the opportunity to get active through free workouts such as boxing, yoga and Zumba. Attendees also could receive free physicals, a new feature this year.
Stacey Mattson, a support specialist at the center, noted that while obesity is a problem in many ethnic groups across the country, it remains especially prevalent among the country’s Native Americans.
Elizabeth Sedgwick, a nurse practitioner at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, performs a physical examination. (Photo by Madeline Kennedy)
“The rate is specifically so high because of the traditional food they were used to eating before it was Americanized,” Mattson explained. “They didn’t have all these processed foods and were used to eating very natural, so it’s something their bodies have a hard time processing. It’s led to skyrocketing rates of obesity.”
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Native Americans have struggled with obesity for generations, but according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it has increased dramatically during the last 30 years.
While there are many contributing factors, the most dominant are the shifts in diet and lifestyle. Diets historically high in complex carbohydrates and lower in fat have been replaced by foods high in sodium, sugar and saturated fat.
High rates of poverty and unemployment also limit access to healthy foods and promote reliance on federal commodity programs for Indian tribes. Another HHS study found that fat intake was more than 30 percent above the recommended amount in Native American communities across the country.
The Ignace Health Center has hosted the Fight Childhood Obesity event for three summers. This year, Mattson and other event organizers teamed up with Health Center physicians to provide free physicals for kids in the community.
“Not everyone in the community has the opportunity to receive annual or even frequent physicals,” Mattson said. “That’s why we felt it was important to offer physicals.”
Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Sedgwick was one of several volunteers administering exams. Sedgwick has been with Ignace for less than a year, but has worked with the Native American community throughout her medical career. Prior to beginning at Ignace, Sedgwick spent two years working on a remote reservation in Montana.
“It seems to me, after being on a reservation, that [the Native American community] is a close group,” Sedgwick said. “There’s a lot of cultural pride…. It’s something that should be appreciated and celebrated.”
Sedgwick added that she sees a lot of overweight children in her line of work and believes it’s important to take time to discuss obesity with kids and their parents.
“To me, it’s very important that I teach kids and parents healthy lifestyles,” she said. “If there’s a kid in my office and I don’t have an appointment after them, I’ll keep them there and talk about obesity until the parent says, ‘We really have to go.’ It’s something that needs to be discussed.”
At one point Sedgwick and other community members halted the activities for a discussion about the importance of exercise and health. Children stopped and listened before returning to their workouts.
Mattson was pleased with the event. “Seeing all the kids come together as a community to have fun and be active instead of staying indoors and playing video games is great.”

author: Madeline Kennedy


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Few details available about FoodShare drug testing program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
August 12, 2015
FoodShare recipients utilize the Marcia Coggs Center on 12th and Vliet. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Very little is known about how state officials plan to implement a newly minted law requiring them to drug test some food stamp recipients, despite longstanding support from Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Walker recently launched a legal battle challenging federal regulations that prohibit such a law.
The law requires the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to develop and implement policies to drug test those able-bodied adults without dependents who are required to take part in the employment and training program associated with FoodShare, the state’s food stamp program. Recipients who test positive for drugs are required to participate in substance abuse treatment to remain eligible for the employment and training program and are subject to random drug tests, according to the law.
Before Walker signed the bill into law as part of the state budget last month, officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the federal food stamp program, told the state that drug testing recipients is illegal. Walker’s administration responded by filing a lawsuit, requesting a federal judge to determine if the state has the right to drug test welfare recipients. The plaintiff, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Kitty Rhoades, argues in the lawsuit that she faces a legal conundrum – either break state or federal law – a conflict created by Walker when he signed the bill into law.
A sign promoting Quest, the state’s food stamp card, is painted on the façade of a Milwaukee corner store. (Photo by Brendan O’Brien)
Department of Health Services officials have been unable to provide details on how the agency plans to implement the law, such as what type of drug testing will be conducted, who will perform the tests, who will have access to the test results and what the program is expected to cost.
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“The Department of Health Services does not comment on pending litigation,” wrote Claire Yunker, a spokeswoman for the department, in an email.
Several officials at organizations in Milwaukee that help individuals apply for FoodShare benefits said they have no information from the state in regard to the new law.
“We have not heard anything yet,” said a caseworker with the Milwaukee Enrollment Services Center. She did not provide her full name and was not authorized to discuss the issue.
An official with the Social Development Commission in Milwaukee, who asked not to be identified, said that her organization, which helps individuals enroll in entitlement programs, has yet to hear about how the state plans to administer the drug test.
The cost of the federal lawsuit is also unclear. Department of Justice spokeswoman Anne Schwartz said her department will not hire outside lawyers to fight the case and therefore will not be tracking hours and will not know what it costs.
The concept of drug testing welfare recipients in Wisconsin is not new. The governor campaigned on the idea last year and has spoken publicly in favor of drug testing.
“We want people to know the dignity that comes from work. (This program) will encourage personal responsibility and workforce readiness,” he wrote in a budget document describing his line-item vetoes.
Legislation requiring some FoodShare recipients to be drug tested was also introduced in the Republican-led Assembly in April. Legislative documents contained no substantive information on how the law will be implemented and how much drug testing will cost taxpayers. A Legislative Fiscal Bureau report on May 19 noted the lack of details in the proposed measure, including whether all program recipients would be screened, when they would be screened and what role local agencies and counties would have — if any — in administering, enforcing or funding drug testing.
The report also said the state Department of Administration has indicated that some of the program details would be included in a waiver application and through negotiations with federal officials. Wisconsin did not submit a waiver application to the USDA as of Aug. 6, according to federal officials. A waiver is required for a state to change the terms of its food stamp program.
In addition, the non-partisan fiscal bureau detailed some of the legal arguments that could be made if the measure is challenged in court, including the possibility that the law is unconstitutional.
“The Governor’s proposal is suspicion-based, in that it would require a positive screen to administer a drug test, so it is not known whether a court would consider it an unreasonable search,” the report said.
A similar Republican effort in Florida failed both legally and economically. Florida spent more than $45,000 from July to October of 2011 to determine that less than 3 percent of the 4,086 welfare recipients who were tested actually used drugs, according to the New York Times. The state paid $118,140 in reimbursements to recipients who passed drug tests, more than it would have paid out in benefits to the people who failed the test, according to the newspaper. The Florida law has since been struck down as unconstitutional by a federal judge.
“This isn’t a serious policy proposal. This is an attempt merely at partisan politics to help one individual’s ambitions and it’s unfortunate that it comes at the cost of people who need food,” said Michael Bare, a research and program coordinator at the Public Policy Institute, referring to Walker and his presidential campaign.

author: Brendan O’Brien


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 11, 2015


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Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin invests $15 million to aid underserved | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin
August 12, 2015
The Sixteenth Street Community Health Center on Cesar Chavez Drive (Photo by Adam Carr, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service)
Targeting one of Milwaukee County’s most medically underserved neighborhoods, 80 percent of a $15 million investment from Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network will establish a new, 22,000-square-foot health care clinic on Milwaukee’s near south side in partnership with Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers.
“As an academic medical center and regional health network, our mission is to advance the health of the communities we serve,” said Cathy Jacobson, president and chief executive officer of Froedtert Health. “This is an investment in our community for the long term, intended to achieve a sustained impact that will truly make a difference in people’s lives. We will partner with the Sixteenth Street team every step of the way.”
The clinic site is still undetermined, but Jacobson said a community health needs assessment coordinated by the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership identified Milwaukee’s 43rd Street corridor just south of Miller Park as an area of significant need. Access to health care services was among the top health issues that emerged as key priorities for Milwaukee County in the latest assessment.
“We are overwhelmed by this gift and what it means to our ability to help people who depend on us,” said Julie Schuller, MD, executive vice president of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers. “As a federally qualified health center, we have years of experience bringing care to those who need it. The new clinic will greatly expand our current capacity and give people a place to get medical care, behavioral health and supportive social services in their neighborhood. Plus, working with Froedtert & MCW, we can expand our offerings and care coordination in new ways, and deepen our strong commitment to quality and service.”
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In addition to primary care provided by Sixteenth Street physicians, the new clinic will provide specialty care, cancer prevention and education, and access to cancer clinical trials through MCW physicians and the Froedtert & MCW academic medical center. It also will serve as a medical education site for MCW.
“Our doctors will develop relationships with patients in their own community, providing them a medical home,” said MCW president and chief executive officer John Raymond, Sr., MD. “And for aspiring doctors, the value of real-life experience working with people who are most in need of health care cannot be overstated. This is fundamental to MCW’s commitment to preparing the next generation of health care professionals.”
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers currently operates three clinics in Milwaukee County and one in Waukesha County. They are Chavez Health Center, 1032 S. Cesar Chavez Drive; Parkway Health Center, 2906 S. 20th Street; and United Community Center Senior Center, 703 W. Washington Ave., in Milwaukee County; and Waukesha Community Health Center, 309 E. North Street, Waukesha.  The clinics offer primary care, behavioral health services, obstetrics and gynecology services and overall family health care. In 2014, approximately 36,000 patients were seen at the clinics, representing more than 150,000 visits.
Twelve million of the $15 million investment is dedicated to the new Sixteenth Street clinic. Plans call for identifying and purchasing a site by the end of 2015, completing construction in 2017 and opening in late 2017. When fully operational, the new clinic is projected to serve 12,000 patients each year who are currently without needed care, expanding Sixteenth Street Health Centers’ overall capacity to nearly 50,000 people.
The remaining $3 million will be distributed to high-need areas in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Washington counties based on medically underserved populations in those counties.
“Details on the remaining distributions will be finalized shortly,” said Jacobson.
“As we did with our $2 million investment in Progressive Community Health Centers’ new Lisbon Avenue Clinic several years ago, we are directing resources where there is the greatest need, focusing on sustainable, long-term solutions based on detailed community health assessments and sound data.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 12, 2015


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On the Block: Rebuild and restore | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 12, 2015
Contractor Larry Keys, who now resides in Sherman Park, thinks Milwaukee is a beautiful city. But it’s well past time the central city should have been repaired and revitalized. He’s doing his part by rebuilding foreclosed homes.


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United Way announces 2015 Philanthropic 5 Award winners | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
August 12, 2015
(Photo courtesy of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County)
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County honored five community leaders for their commitment to the Milwaukee area as the winners of the 2015 Philanthropic 5 awards.
The awards, created by United Way’s Emerging Leaders Council, recognize five community leaders, in their 20s, 30s or 40s, who give, advocate and volunteer for change throughout Greater Milwaukee’s nonprofit community. This year an inaugural Philanthropic Youth (PY) award was also presented to recognize the great things that happen when youth gets involved and lives united. Each Philanthropic 5 winner is awarded $500 to donate to the charity of their choice and the Philanthropic Youth winner is awarded with a $500 scholarship for continuing education.
This year’s winners are:
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Hughesis a true advocate for women and children in Milwaukee County. As President of WGIRLS Milwaukee, an organization dedicated to fundraising and promoting advocacy for nonprofits who work with disadvantaged women and children, Rachael has raised over $250,000 to support 40 local nonprofits who serve this demographic. Rachael is also passionate about being a mentor to other young professionals.  She has been a Big Sister for five years and is also a member of United Way LINC (United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County’s young professional group that provides unique volunteer events to elevate your community, connections and social calendar.)
Jepsonis a humble leader who has worked tirelessly advocating for the health and well-being of youth in our community. As a trained clinical social worker for several years Leah chaired Health Watch Milwaukee, an organization devoted to improving health care coverage for children and families. She also led Milwaukee’s Project LAUNCH, a city-wide coalition aimed at fostering the healthy development of children birth through age 8.   Her work through Project LAUNCH informed her leadership role in the Parent Education and Support Network within Milwaukee Succeeds, the broad-based, communitywide collaboration that aims to improve educational outcomes for every child in Milwaukee, in every school, from cradle to career.
Johnson is always advocating for women and youth in Milwaukee. She has volunteered countless hours to the YMCA’s Black Achievers program and as Chair of ONE MKE, an organization whose mission is to transform leadership and relationships in order to foster and retain a diverse pipeline of talent and improve cultural competence within the city of Milwaukee.  She is also the co-founder of 29Eleven, an organization that creates marketing initiatives that help drive awareness on a variety of issues. Her Kiss Domestic Violence Goodbye event raises funds and advocates for domestic violence. Jasmine’s annual event Fight like a Girl has helped raise money to support local cancer organizations for advocacy and awareness for prevention and early detection of cancers within the most disparate communities.
Singhis a driven leader who spends most of her days advocating for others. As the Executive Director of the Burke Foundation, she is committed to urban education and youth development. She also dedicates her personal time helping other nonprofits, like Meta House, succeed. Recently, Deanna held a fundraiser that funded start-up costs for Shorewood House, Meta House’s newest residential treatment center.  Deanna also believes in instilling that act of giving in her two children. Her 6-year old son, Zephaniah, raised over $1,000 selling lemonade and donated it to a Milwaukee teacher and a group of women from India looking to start their own business, which he and Deanna were connected to through DonorsChoose.org and Kiva, and also sold his artwork to benefit the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Kiekhoferis wholeheartedly a man of compassionAs owner of Front Room Photography, Neil has donated his time and talents to bring quality photography to local nonprofits including United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. Through his creative lens, he’s able to tell beautiful stories of people making a difference across our community. His studio also hosts “Charity Days’ which helps raise money for a variety of nonprofits. In addition to his work with nonprofits, Neil and his wife also volunteer with their twin girls to help teach them about giving back to the community.
SenthilKumar, a recent graduate of Brookfield Central High School, received the inaugural Philanthropic Youth (PY) award. As the Head of Publicity and Activism for Brookfield Central’s Junior Statesmen of America chapter, Gopika challenged her schoolmates to “open their eyes to the needs of the community” and initiated a United Way student campaign at her high school, coined “Donate Your Age to United Way.” The campaign calls on students to give back to the community on their birthday by donating the dollar amount matching the age they are turning that year. With hopes of spreading this project to schools beyond her own and share her message to area youth organizations and groups, Gopika serves as the youngest member of UWGMWC’s Campaign Cabinet. Gopika’s ambition is to bring affordable, quality healthcare to the Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County community. To do this, she frequently volunteers her time at Froedtert Hospital and other local charities, and in the fall, she will be studying Biomedical Engineering and Pre-Med at University of Wisconsin- Madison.


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Report Examines Marijuana Policy In Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 13, 2015
WPR Wisconsin Public Radio


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United Way announces 2015-2016 community investments | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
August 13, 2015
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County will invest $51.2 million into the community during the 2015-2016 funding cycle.
The investment represents more than $24.8 million that will be invested directly into United Way’s Education, Income and Health strategic focus areas and over $23 million in donor designations to specific agencies.
United Way raised a record $54 million during the 2014 Greater Milwaukee Community Campaign and United Way in Waukesha County raised $4.3 million. The difference between the amount raised and projected community investment includes uncollectable pledges, in-kind/sponsorship dollars, as well as fundraising, programmatic and administrative costs.
The newly merged organization remains committed to identifying and focusing more dollars on the root causes of community problems, including important initiatives such as Helping Kids Succeed and Financial Stability in Waukesha County. The distribution of funds remained the same for the current funding cycle, however, when the 2015 Community Campaign is successful; United Way hopes to deploy more resources into our community in programs that show results.
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“The measure of United Way is how we continue to invest dollars into collaborative community efforts that ultimately change the conditions for the better of all,” said Mary Lou Young, president and CEO. “Because of the generosity of so many, we are able to invest in quality programs that create needle-moving change.”
Investing in 220-plus programs at over 110 agencies, United Way serves a wide spectrum of individuals and families from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds, supporting people through all of life’s stages. Key community partnerships and initiatives include, Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Healthy Birth Outcomes, Milwaukee Succeeds and Continuum of Care. For a complete list of agency program partners, visit unitedwaygmwc.org/What-We-Fund
Funding decisions are based on a robust annual review process that measures financial health, as well as programmatic impact. United Way operates at a high rate of efficiency, investing almost 90 percent of the money raised in the annual community campaign back into the community. This far exceeds the 65 % minimum considered acceptable for a non-profit to be living up to its mission, according to Charity Navigator, the non-profit industry watchdog.


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US Forest Service Connects Milwaukee Kids to Nature | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 13, 2015
WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio


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What Will Become of America’s Slums? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 13, 2015
The Atlantic


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Fashion designer wins Lindsay Heights business plan competition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 14, 2015
Competition winner Kelvin Haydon (second from right) shows his award certificate as (from left) Sakuri Fears, Alderman Russell Stamper and BID Executive Director Jacqueline Ward look on. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Kelvin Haydon, a fashion designer and owner of KH Design, has won the first business plan competition sponsored by the North Avenue/Fond Du Lac Business Improvement District (Marketplace BID 32).
“I’m excited about the economic development in this corridor. Development is rapid and robust in Lindsay Heights,” said Alderman Russell Stamper at a press conference at the corner of Fond Du Lac Avenue and North Avenue. Stamper was one of eight judges in the competition.
Haydon will receive discounted lease space for six months at 2025-27 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. as one of his prizes. Repairs to the building are underway. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Haydon was chosen from among 18 entrepreneurs who entered the Start-Up/Scale-Up Business Plan Competition. Together with second and third place winners, Ms. Clean Cleaning Services owner Nikita Watkins and would-be retailer Ailsa Stokes-Hardy, Haydon will receive rent and technical assistance, among other prizes. Until now, Haydon and Watkins have been operating their businesses out of their homes. Stokes-Hardy plans to open Love’n My Curves, a resale store for plus-size women.
Haydon attended Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) and earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College Chicago. He has worked for several Milwaukee clothing manufacturers, including JH Collectibles, and has designed clothing for men and women for 20 years, he said.
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In addition to participating in shows in New York City and Memphis, Haydon was chosen as Little Rock Fashion Week’s Designer of the Year in 2012, he added. Now focusing on high fashion and ready-to-wear designs for women, Haydon said that opening a store will give him much more visibility, bring in new clients and offer a more relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience.
“(We) have been talking for at least three years about how do we support local entrepreneurs in all ways possible … And how do we start fixing some of these empty storefronts in our community,” said Jacqueline Ward, executive director of Marketplace BID 32.
Though BID 32 considered having a contest for some time, a competition by Layton Boulevard West Neighbors inspired it to forge ahead, Ward said.
A model displays a Kelvin Haydon design on the runway at Little Rock Fashion Week 2011. (Photo courtesy of Kelvin Haydon)
Participants came to the competition through classes and workshops the BID offers to entrepreneurs.
Workshops cover a wide range of topics, including legal, marketing, accounting, insurance and risk management — “everything that they will be challenged with when they open their doors,” Ward said.
“I see in the work that I do that entrepreneurs miss out on professional development when they decide to jump into a business,” Ward added.
Classes on how to start a business and on financial basics are offered every month, according to Ward. The next class will be on financial basics on Aug. 17.
Haydon’s award includes $5,000 for start-up costs and a rent reduction of $300 per month for six months in a renovated building at 2025-27 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. Among other services, he will receive software set up; equipment and furniture valued at $1,000; business plan development and support; and a professional services contract.
Watkins and Stokes-Hardy will be awarded discounted lease space for a pop-up shop or office; legal, accounting, financial and marketing assistance; business plan development and support; a professional services contract; and small cash awards.
In addition to Stamper, judges were Joaquin Altoro, vice president, Town Bank; Sakuri Fears, program officer, LISC; Gina Stilp, senior program officer, Zilber Family Foundation; Derek Kenner and Michael Ford, partners, SMB Group; Ngozie Omegbu, economic development associate, Legacy Redevelopment Corp.; and Nicholas Monette, management project officer, WHEDA.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 13, 2015


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20310295548_647112e901_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 13, 2015


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20342265889_dd5c7c0aa4_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 13, 2015


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On the Block: Parenting | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
August 14, 2015


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 14, 2015


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Community groups look for answers as federal program funds decline | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matthew Wisla
August 17, 2015
Federal funding has declined for home renovation projects such as this one at 737 S. 36th St. Jeremy Belot coordinates real estate development for Layton Boulevard West Neighbors. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
Everything about the house next to Shawna Clarmont’s home on the South Side threatened the health of the neighborhood. Before the bank foreclosed on the house and it became a vacant eyesore, the residents were known to be a disreputable collection of hoarders and drug users who never lifted a finger to maintain the property. The siding was made with asbestos, a known carcinogen.
“Everyone knew the house was a wreck,” said Jeremy Belot, director of real estate development at Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN). But one recent morning after Clarmont returned home from working her third-shift job, she pointed toward the house and called out with a big smile, “Hey Jeremy, looking good!”
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors bought the house on 36 Street in the Silver City neighborhood last winter and is making major repairs and upgrades, including new siding, as part of a program that renovates vacant properties previously owned by the city or a bank and sells them to families.
Government funding for the HOME Program, which helped rehab this house at 724 S. 38th St., declined 34 percent between 2006 and 2014. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
However, government funding that helps support this and similar programs throughout the city has been in significant decline, creating increasing pressure on community organizations to identify more stable, sustainable sources of funding. According to a new report by the Public Policy Forum, “Public Funding for Community Development in Milwaukee,” from 2007 to 2015 government funding in seven of the nine programs tracked decreased by at least 10 percent.
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The report looked at programs in three areas: housing and development, education and workforce, and health and human services. It was commissioned by the Zilber Family Foundation and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
“The recession played a role (in decreased funding) but so did changing government priorities and a trend where federal money that would previously go mostly to Milwaukee is now being allocated more widely around the state,” said Rob Henken, president of the Public Policy Forum.
The house next to Clarmont’s is being rehabbed in part with funds from the federal HOME Investment Partnership Program. Funding for HOME has declined nationwide by 40 percent (see chart, “Federal Appropriations for the HOME program”) and Milwaukee allocations followed suit, falling off 34 percent between 2006 and 2014 (see chart, “City of Milwaukee HOME allocations”).
Subsidies are critical
Belot points out that the project will turn “the worst house on the block into one of the best” and contribute to neighborhood stability, but the transformation takes significant investment. After purchasing the house for $22,000 in February, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors is putting approximately $180,000 into repairs and upgrades. It hopes to put the house up for sale in early September for about $100,000. The difference between the sale price and the amount spent comes from government subsidies or other fundraising.
Nicole Angresano, vice president of community impact for United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, has seen the impact of reduced funding. “Many organizations have taken a pretty big hit,” Angresano said.
The Milwaukee Christian Center, for example, has said it plans to only rehab half the number of homes this year as it did in 2007 due to decreased federal funding from Community Development Block Grants. According to the report, funds to Milwaukee from that federal program dropped by 18 percent between 2007 and 2015.
In addition to housing projects, public health initiatives also are affected, although the need hasn’t decreased and the community organizations delivering services are performing well, according to Angresano. For example, she said federal programs to combat domestic violence have been slashed with little or no warning as part of the reduced funding trend.
Some local programs and organizations are facing funding cuts even as federal allocations to Wisconsin increase or remain the same. That happens when rising needs around the state draw funds away from Milwaukee. For example, Title 1 provides funding support to school districts with a high percentage of low-income families. Started in 1965, it is the largest federally funded education program for elementary and secondary schools. Between 2007 and 2014, federal Title 1 allocations to Wisconsin remained steady but Milwaukee Public Schools received about $12 million (14 percent) less while other school districts around the state saw increases. According to the report, Title 1 funding is “critical” to Milwaukee Public Schools, making up approximately 6 percent of its overall revenue budget.
“These funding shifts (that disperse money more widely throughout Wisconsin) are happening a lot more than they used to,” Angresano said.
Ongoing changes in demographics and poverty levels around the state are likely to continue challenging the ability of local organizations to secure funding regardless of the size of the population or severity of the need in Milwaukee, according to Angresano and others. That’s partly because many federal programs, including those studied in the Public Policy Forum’s report, allocate funds based on set formulas.
“Money is tight and Milwaukee is increasingly in competition with other communities around the state,” said Ian Bautista, executive director of the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative. “I wish the federal government prioritized neighborhood investment more.”
New options
With government funds waning, community organizations are under pressure to identify new revenue streams. According to Bautista, the funding squeeze “puts them more in a position to seek private funding or cut back on programming.”
The Public Policy Forum agrees that there is a new emphasis on local private sector support and also identifies “service innovations” as a way organizations are addressing the challenge. For example, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors is using volunteer labor wherever possible to help rehab houses. Area contractors willing to donate their time are scheduled into the workflow of projects, according to Will Sebern, executive director of LBWN.
Organizations also are looking at more significant changes to make their funding models more predictable and sustainable. Angresano has been recommending an increased focus on business development to the organizations she works with.
“It’s increasingly a priority to have a high-quality development person on staff who can look at an organization’s funding options and develop a roadmap,” she said. “You have to remain mission-aligned and not start looking for grants outside your core mission.”
According to Sebern, partnerships are key. “For the future, what’s clear is a need for building partnerships with other organizations in the community if you want to maintain your organization and services and grow,” he said.
Bautista added that conditions might be right for some organizations to consider merging. “Sometimes larger organizations weather storms more easily,” he said.

author: Matthew Wisla


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 16, 2015


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Immigration News Today: Advocates Obtain Thousands of FOIA Papers on ‘Unprecedented’ ICE Detention Practice | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 17, 2015
Latin Post


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Milwaukee Chess Program Helps Inner City Kids Develop Life Skills | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 17, 2015
WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio


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Nonprofit executive Q&A with Robert Meiksins | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 17, 2015
BizTimes.com


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Ticket to nowhere: The hidden cost of driver’s license suspensions | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
August 17, 2015
jsonline.com


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Walker’s Point Center for the Arts welcomes new executive director Ana Melo | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Walker's Point Center for the Arts
August 17, 2015
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(Photo courtesy of Walker’s Point Center for the Arts)
Walker’s Point Center for the Arts is proud to introduce our new Executive Director Ana Melo, who started on August 10. Ana grew up in the Walker’s Point neighborhood and has strong ties to the community. She is a bilingual community leader passionate about the arts, youth engagement and nonprofit sustainability.
Ana received a Master’s of Education in Teaching, Learning and Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University and holds an undergraduate degree in Interior Design and Fine Arts from Mount Mary University. She is currently enrolled in the Non-Profit Leadership & Management Certificate Program at UW Parkside. Ana is also a proud graduate of the Latino Non-Profit Leadership Program, Class IX.
Prior to becoming the executive director of WPCA, Ana served as the executive director of John XXIII Educational Center in Racine, WI. Her previous work also includes teaching at Milwaukee Area Technical College and Journey House Family Learning Center. Additionally, Ana is extremely involved in the community, serving as past president of the LULAC Latinas Council #330, director of communications for the Milwaukee Latino Carnival and as co-chair for the 2014 PALM (Promoting Academics for Latino Milwaukee) Committee.
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With ties to the Walker’s Point neighborhood and her vast experience in education, arts and community, Ana fits perfectly with WPCA’s mission and what the organization represents. She will continue to lead the organization in the commitment of providing quality, accessible arts education and art experiences to everyone.
“I’m honored to serve such a prestigious organization and a community near and dear to my heart,” said Ana. “My vision is to continue to build upon the strong presence of the organization and to create new partnerships that align with our mission in bringing arts to youth, families and artists in the neighborhood of Walker’s Point and throughout the City of Milwaukee.”
Her immediate goals include increasing the organization’s visibility, affirming and expanding partnerships, and organizing fundraising and community engaging events. She also plans to increase staffing capabilities and expand sources of funding, including individual donors and corporate partnerships, to further enhance programming.

author: Walker's Point Center for the Arts


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 17, 2015


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What is Milwaukee’s new story? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rick Deines
August 17, 2015
Rick Deines, a conversation facilitator with The Zeidler Center for Public Discussion and a Milwaukee resident for 33 years, hopes to change the “dominant story” about Milwaukee.
Dominant Story: Milwaukee is a divided city and region. The statistics reflect a deep chasm of opportunity among a variety of cultural groups— the gaps are great in employment, health, education, housing, and opportunities to better one’s life situation.
New Story: Through an effort forged by local “community connectors” — churches, educational institutions, health and housing providers, and businesses — a story of a “generous and hospitable Milwaukee” is being written. It is an identity emerging from the grass roots and being imprinted on how Milwaukeeans from preschoolers to older citizens understand who they are.
Dominant Story: Milwaukee has a plethora of well-intended citizens who are involved in significant individual and group efforts to bring some correction to historic gaps. Yet, while there have been improvements in certain areas, every day mixing of the lives among African-Americans, Caucasians, Asians, Latinos and others is rare in this city. Neighborhoods are seen as separate toeholds; suburbs tend to turn their back on the city. In too many cases, divisions exist within the separated parts as well. Attempts to address these challenges tend to operate in isolation from one another and perpetrate the silo mentality.
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New Story: Neighborhoods take pride in their local community while purposefully linking with communities across the region, including the suburbs—joining in developing a new story for the next generation. Common ground is found in caring for the environment, decreasing the punishment and promoting employment for low-level offenders, and using proven educational methods that prepare students for more than subsistence living.
Dominant Story: A narrative for moving forward is not being championed by political, cultural and community leaders. Again, individuals champion certain causes, but fall short of addressing the underlying needs in a comprehensive way. Piecemeal solutions are too readily accepted as the best we can do. The fact that our community is a connected system, within itself and outwardly with the region, seems not to be understood nor part of proposed solutions. Top-down models of implementing community change dominate. Successful local efforts are lifted up as exceptional and laudable, not signs of how structures can be transformed.
New Story: Leadership from all facets of community life develop networks of organizations, resources, people and money dedicated to supporting the building up of the entire community. The value of investing in the assets of individuals and groups becomes a foundational principle for re-constituting the city.
Dominant Story: The average person cannot effect change. The system is too powerful to penetrate without lots of people and money. We live in our stratified communities and rarely venture into the “stranger’s” territory. There is the Milwaukee for the tourist and the Milwaukee for residents who make tourism possible by working long hours for low wages and little appreciation.
New Story: Regular conversations take place within and across neighborhoods, including but not dominated by the formal and informal power brokers. Everyone has a stake in the decisions that impact the daily lives of all Milwaukeeans. The community comes together in various formats to create stories, rituals and symbols proclaiming a new kind of citizen responsibility. Realities that reflect divisions in the community are faced through interpersonal interactions, resulting in better understanding and trust. Milwaukee becomes a community embracing its own mixed history and the nation’s spotted history. Milwaukee citizens, together, use these new understandings and gifts as a sign of possibility for others in the state, country and world.
Note: The suggestion to describe a city using “dominant story” and “new story” comes from John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri, who writes and speaks about sustainability.

author: Rick Deines


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Ace Boxing Club fights to improve lives in and out of the ring | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Madeline Kennedy
August 18, 2015
For 55 years, Ace Boxing Club in Kosciuszko Park has provided free boxing lessons to the neighborhood’s at-risk and underprivileged youth.
After more than a half century, not much has changed at the small South Side nonprofit. There’s no phone, fax machine or computer. The club still occupies the same small, sweaty gym, is led by the same family and carries the same motto: “It’s better to sweat in the gym than bleed in the streets.”
Operations Manager Frank Porter hopes to instill confidence and discipline in all boxers who come to Ace. According to Porter, the club teaches children ages 4 and up not just how to box, but also “how to live.”
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Boxing runs in the Native-American tradition and his family bloodline, Porter said. His father, amateur and professional boxer Del Porter, founded the club after experiencing a “spiritual awakening” in 1960. He decided to stop training professional boxers and closed up his old gym. Later that year in a small shack in Kosciuszko Park, Ace Boxing Club began.
Members of Ace Boxing Club perform a basic skills demonstration at a community event. (Photo by Madeline Kennedy)
The elder Porter felt called to create a resource center where the neighborhood’s kids could learn to love the sport that had shaped his life, his son said.
“For 48 years, my father ran this place out of his own heart and wallet,” Porter noted. “He wanted kids to get off the street and do something productive with their lives.”
After his father passed away in 2008, Porter decided to step into the ring and continue the program. Ace continues to grow each year. According to Porter, the club trains about 500 young amateur boxers each year.
One of these members is Jaime Nerios, who has participated in Ace for eight years. Nerios said his experiences at the club played a major role in his decision to join the Army after graduating high school.
“The club has taught me a lot,” Nerios said. “It helped me find my love for fighting and the whole experience has made me stronger, I think, both mentally and physically.”
While some kids have been Ace members for years, others such as Ethan Phongsavath picked up their gloves only recently.
“I first heard about Ace through some friends eight months ago,” Phongsavath said. “But I like it a lot. It’s a lot of fun learning new techniques and meeting other boxers. I learn something new each time I walk in the gym.”
Porter credits Ace’s success and legacy to the support it has received from the neighborhood. The clubhouse doesn’t even have a lock on the front door, but Porter insists that there has never been a problem with theft or vandalism.
“I think it’s a testament to the impact we’ve had on the kids around here,” Porter said. “They appreciate what we do and they love to be part of it. It’s what helped us last 55 years and it’ll help us last another 55.”


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Milwaukee Police Department named one of two U.S. finalists for prestigious policing award | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LISC Milwaukee
August 18, 2015
The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) was recently named as a finalist for the prestigious, international Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem- Oriented Policing (POP).
MPD is being recognized for its collaboration with the neighborhood-based group, Washington Park Partners, to abate nuisance properties and improve overall safety in the Washington Park neighborhood. This block-by-block approach has included remediation of vacant properties, improving lighting and site lines, connecting residents to social services and job opportunities, and encouraging resident involvement in block clubs and other civic opportunities. These innovative and targeted approaches have been enabled by federal investment through the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) program, administered by the US Department of Justice – Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn said, “I am proud that the hard work of the Milwaukee Police Department has been recognized among its peers, both nationally and internationally, for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. Our continued partnerships with groups like Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Washington Park Partners advances our mission of creating neighborhoods capable of sustaining civic life.”
An example of this collaborative community-police partnership will be on display Tuesday, August L8th, from 12:00 – 1:30PM, during Mayor Barrett’s 100 Miles in 100 Days program in Washington Park, followed by an “Ice Cream Social” event held at the park playground areanear W. Lisbon Ave. & N. Sherman Blvd (see attached flyer for more information).
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The final round ofjudging for the award will be conducted at the 25th Annual International Problem-Oriented Policing Conference in Portland, Oregon, October l9-21’t where MPD and community representatives will present to law enforcement leaders and advocates from across the globe.
The project includes a wide variety of additional partners including neighborhood residents, the District Attorney’s Community Prosecution Unit, United Methodist Children’s Services of Wisconsin, Inc. (UMCS), Wisconsin Department of Corrections, LISC, Habitat for Humanity, and Safe and Sound.
The Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing is administered by the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing based in Chicago, Illinois. Other finalists include the Metropolitan Police of London, UK, (for three projects), and the Portland Police Bureau in Portland, Oregon. The POP approach calls police to be proactive in identifying underlying problems which can be targeted to reduce crime and disorder at their roots. This strategy places emphasis on research and analysis as well as crime prevention and the active engagement of public and private partnerships in the reduction of crime.
Bobby Mcquay, staffer at UMCS and a ‘Washington Park resident, said, ‘oI have lived in the Washington Park neighborhood most of my life. I have witnessed hrsthand the changes and challenges the neighborhood has experienced over the years. However, I can feel a resurgence in the community that is due in part to the city’s redevelopment strategies, investments made in the neighborhood by LISC, and the innovative policing methods deployed by MPD, in partnership with strong community anchors such as Washington Park Partners.”
“LISC Milwaukee is proud to support the dynamic community-police collaborations occurring in the Washington Park neighborhood”, said John Connelly, Program Officer with LISC. “The dedicated work by the Milwaukee Police Department and its community partners in this neighborhood is now being utilized as a model for similar community safety efforts not only in other Milwaukee neighborhoods but in cities across the country”.
LISC will provide conference scholarships to the Milwaukee presenters, as well as facilitate a site tour of Portland’s BCJI program, and peer learning opportunities.
More info on National Center for Problem-Oriented Policing: http://www.popcenter.org/
More info on BCJI Program:
htto ://www.lisc.ors/csi/bvrne criminal innovation %28bcii%29lindex. php


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On the Block: Staple of the community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
August 18, 2015
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Lester Staples, owner of Staple Bros. Hardware, sells tools and household items at his store at 3432 W. Burleigh St. Staples said he has been able to remain in business in the inner city by offering services that the big box stores do not and focusing on helping his neighbors improve their community.


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Mayor joins neighbors for walk in Washington Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sue Vliet
August 19, 2015
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Milwaukee Police Department ambassadors joined Mayor Tom Barrett and Washington Park residents Tuesday for a one-mile walk through Washington Park, Metcalfe Park and Martin Drive, culminating in an ice cream social. Barrett is challenging Milwaukeeans to walk 100 miles in 100 days.

author: Sue Vliet