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Community Heroes: ‘Sometimes people need help’: How one woman stepped up to help feed the community during the coronavirus | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 7, 2020
Shaheen Saiyed knew she could do something to help families in need. (Photo provided by Shaheen Saiyed)
Editor’s note: At the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, we intentionally celebrate ordinary people who do extraordinary things. We are especially interested in our neighbors who are making a difference as we all deal with the effects of COVID-19. Please let us know by emailing us at info@milwaukeenns.org.
After hearing about the coronavirus pandemic, Shaheen Saiyed headed to the grocery store to stock up on essentials.
While there, Saiyed reflected on her privilege.
“As a mother, I’m stocking up, and I realized there are families who don’t have those resources,” she said.
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Saiyed knew people were struggling. On top of having children home from school, people were out of jobs, and the pandemic was putting a serious drain on their already limited resources.
Attari Supermarket is offering the kits with basic food items to anyone who needs one. (Photo provided by Attari Supermarket)
As a program manager for Ma’ruf, Saiyed knew she had to do something. The Muslim nonprofit, which opened a youth innovation center last year at 2110 W. Hampton Ave., has been a resource in Milwaukee for years, and Saiyed knew the group would answer her call.
Together with Attari Supermarket, Saiyed created the Maruf Grocery Kit.
The kit contains rice, bread, oil, meat and lentils and is free. It is available at Attari Supermarket, 3042 S. 13 St.; Biryani Palace Grill and Grocery, 5326 S. 27 St.; and Garden of Eden, 1011 W. Historic Mitchell St. If an individual needs a kit, he or she can visit a store and ask for one.
The kits are a standard size for a family of four, and larger families can receive two upon request.
Ma’ruf also is working to connect families to other resources such as sites offering free meal pickup and food pantries.
‘Sometimes people need help’
Reziq Attari, who has operated Attari Supermarket since 2004, said he regularly sees people from different nationalities and income levels.
“Sometimes people need help, but they won’t ask unless you offer it to them,” Attari said.
He’s been proud of the way people have stepped up to help.
Once the COVID-19 crisis subsides, Attari said he hopes people will continue to come together.
“At the end, we’re all human beings, and we share a lot more than our differences,” he said.
The kits are small, Saiyed said, but they mean so much to families who use them.
“If you see there’s a true need, act on it right away,” she said.
MORE ON MA’RUF
Ma’ruf is raising money to supply the kits. So far, it’s  raised enough for 200 kits, which cost $40 to sponsor. Local grocers also are  welcome to join the effort by calling (951) 880-4911.
In addition to the kits, the center offers mentorship and virtual classes and is looking to start a teletherapy program to help individuals cope with quarantine and other mental health needs. It recently launched Teachable Moments, which are live interactive lessons focusing on math, science, coding, leadership, character building and more.


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49721267013_57131b9e6f_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 7, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Adam Carr


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Shaheen Saiyed | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 7, 2020


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Post from Community: Meet 9 recipients of MKE Responds grants | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
April 7, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Philanthropic partners in Milwaukee have launched a coordinated response to aid the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This effort includes the MKE Responds Fund, a fund managed by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and supported by a coalition of funders and collaborators. MKE Responds provides resources to organizations working in the greater Milwaukee area with communities disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and its economic consequences.
Here’s how some of the funds have been distributed:
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Advocates of Ozaukee – shelter services, $15,000
Hunger Task Force – food distribution, $15,000
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin – food distribution, $15,000
Food Pantry of Waukesha County – food distribution, $15,000
Imagine MKE – artist relief fund, $25,000
Tandem – free meals for neighbors, $5,000
United Way of Northern Ozaukee County – community relief fund for food, housing and behavioral health services, $25,000
Capuchin Community Services – meal site services, $11,200
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers – Behavioral health treatment via telehealth services, $35,150
Click here, for more information and to donate.

author: Greater Milwaukee Foundation


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PHOTOS: Voting during the coronavirus: Surreal scenes from election day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wes Tank
April 8, 2020
An unprecedented election day during the COVID-19 pandemic led to memorable scenes at Milwaukee’s five polling places.
Wes Tank of TankThink is an occasional collaborator of NNS and generously shared these images from the frontlines.

author: Wes Tank


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Post from Community: ‘10thirtyix’ presents presents local stories of coronavirus | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee PBS
April 8, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Almost overnight, our world has changed. In a special “remote” edition of 10thirtysix, Milwaukee PBS tells the stories of how local residents have been impacted by the Coronavirus. 10thirtysix – Personal Stories, Public Pandemic airs on Thursday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. on Milwaukee PBS Channel 10.1.
Milwaukee PBS’ producers, technical staff and hosts have been working together – remotely – from their own southeastern Wisconsin communities, to tell stories of the impact of COVID-19 from their own neighborhoods.  The special profiles a Shorewood couple who is recovering after falling ill with the Coronavirus. It will examine how COVID-19 has impacted Milwaukee’s African American community, and a heart-wrenching look at those mourning the loss of a loved one during this challenging time. The special also features the stories of “Milwaukee’s Helpers,” those going above and beyond in service to our community.
10thirtysix – Personal Stories, Public Pandemic will also air several times throughout April on Milwaukee PBS WMVS 10.1 and WMVT 36.1, and is available to stream on MilwaukeePBS.org. For more air dates and schedule information, visit MilwaukeePBS.org/schedule.
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author: Milwaukee PBS


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150e6b7051_1036_Carosel2020.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
April 8, 2020

author: Name *


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Post from Community: Drive-through food collection for local homeless sanctuary is held in place of Palm Sunday Services | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Amy Karsten
April 8, 2020
St. Luke Catholic Church Pastoral Associate Cathy Smith wears gloves and a mask and is careful to practice social distancing as she unloads donations at the drive-through food collection held on April 5, 2020. In the two-hour drive through service, parishioners collected five van-loads of donations for the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary.
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing measures didn’t deter parishioners at St. Luke Catholic Church in Brookfield from their mission. This year, rather than handing out palm branches at a traditional service, Pastor Fr. Kenneth Augustine and about 15 parishioners held a drive-through food collection on April 5 to, in part, address the needs of the community served by the Doorway Ministry of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary at 2461 W. Center St, Milwaukee.
Volunteers wore masks and gloves and were careful to stay physically distant as they unloaded donations of non-perishable food items, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies. For two solid hours, a steady stream of cars drove through this unusual church service. After unloading donations, parishioners placed a Palm Sunday prayer card with an encouraging thank you note in each trunk. Cash donations were also accepted and continued online through April 7.
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“Indeed, our drive-through food drive was a success,” says St. Luke’s Human Concerns Chair, Lynn Sprangers who reports that the unique Palm Sunday service collected over five van-loads of contributions. She and her husband plan to deliver the donations on April 7 for immediate distribution that day. “It’s the simple things and actions like helping others that are truly a blessing,” she explains.
Sanctuary president Sister MacCanon Brown expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the parishioners at St. Luke’s for their extraordinary demonstration of compassion on Palm Sunday. She explains that the Amani neighborhood was a food desert before Covid-19, and it is facing critical shortages because of the pandemic. “These free provisions are helping individuals and households with day to day survival.”
The MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary Doorway Ministry, located at 2461 West Center St., provides lunches, fresh produce, canned food, supplies, hygiene products, and clothing for those who are homeless or in housing insecure situations. Distribution is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Water is also provided by Hydrate the Homeless.
The sanctuary has an urgent need for canned beef and chicken, sardines, Vienna sausages; canned yams, green beans, baked beans, corn; chicken noodle or chicken dumpling soup; hand sanitizer, bars of soap, toilet tissue. Ideal drop-off times are 10 – 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the back door of 2461 W. Center St. in the alley. Donors may stay in their vehicles while our volunteers unload.
Those who prefer to make a financial donation can do so at http://www.mbsanctuary.org.

author: Amy Karsten


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Post from Community: Pagos de Hipoteca pudieran ser pospuestos para dueños de hogares afectados económicamente por COVID-19 || Homeowners with loss of income due to COVID-19 could have mortgage payments postponed | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Take Root Milwaukee
April 8, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
English version of information is below.
En respuesta a la pandemia del COVID-19, instituciones financieras están ofreciendo una variedad de programas de asistencia al consumidor que le permitirá a sus clientes suspender sus pagos de hipoteca de 60 a 180 días sin enfrentar cargos adicionales, penalidades o afectar su crédito. Sin embargo, este aplazamiento en pagos no se aplicará automáticamente a un préstamo: el cliente tiene la responsabilidad de contactar a su institución financiera para solicitar un plan de pago por dificultades económicas, ya que no todas lo están ofreciendo.
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La recientemente aprobada legislación “Ayuda, Alivio y Seguridad Económica ante el Coronavirus” (CARES Act por sus siglas en inglés) evita que instituciones financieras comiencen el proceso de desalojo hipotecario en préstamos respaldados a nivel federal (FHA, HUD, USDA, VA, Fannie Mae y Freddie Mac) por al menos 60 días a partir de marzo 18. Si el cliente no está seguro de qué tipo de préstamo posee, su institución financiera (a quien le hacen pagos de hipoteca mensuales) puede ayudarle.
Clientes que necesiten ajustar sus pagos mensuales pueden hacerlo por teléfono o en línea a través de su cuenta de banca móvil; o visitando la sección de asistencia hipotecaria en la página de Internet de su entidad. Una lista de instituciones financieras, junto a los números de teléfono para asistencia al consumidor y enlaces para ayuda en línea, está disponible en la página de Internet de Take Root Milwaukee.
Aquellos sin acceso al Internet pueden llamar a Take Root Milwaukee al (414) 921-4149 y solicitar una llamada devuelta para asistencia. Por el alto volumen de llamadas y tiempos de espera inusuales, es preferible que se comience el proceso en línea y que los clientes tengan a la mano información sobre su ingreso mensual y gastos para que su institución financiera pueda ayudarle a determinar para qué tipo de arreglo cualifican.
“Es importante que las personas entiendan que lo que se está ofreciendo actualmente no es perdón del préstamo. Con algunos programas de alivio hipotecario, todavía podrías quedar debiendo todos los pagos incumplidos cuando culmine el periodo de aplazamiento, mientras que otros programas podrían mover esos pagos incumplidos para el final de la hipoteca”, expresa Johanna Jimenez, directora de Take Root Milwaukee. Jimenez explicó que las opciones varían de institución a institución, al igual que varía cómo se pagarán esos pagos aplazados, y añadió que los clientes deben entender qué se les está ofreciendo y documentar cuando comenzarán los pagos nuevamente. A su vez, se les motiva a quienes puedan continuar realizando sus pagos a que lo hagan sin necesidad de tomar alguna acción en estos momentos.
Banks, credit unions and mortgage holding companies are offering a variety of customer assistance programs that will allow their borrowers to suspend mortgage payments for up to 180 days without facing fees, penalties or hits to their credit score in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, this break in payments is not automatically applied to a loan – it is the responsibility of the borrower to contact their servicer to request a payment plan if one is being offered because of financial hardship.
The recently passed CARES Act blocks lenders from starting the foreclosure process on federally backed loans (FHA, HUD, USDA, VA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) for at least 60 days as of March 18. If borrowers are unsure of what type of loan they have, their servicer (who monthly payments are made to) can determine that for them.
Borrowers who need to adjust their monthly payments can do so by phone or online through their mobile banking account or by visiting a dedicated mortgage assistance page on their servicer’s website. A list of financial institutions along with their customer assistance phone numbers and online help pages can be found on the Take Root Milwaukee website.
Those without Internet access can call Take Root Milwaukee at 414.921.4149 to request a callback with their servicer’s contact information. Because of high call volumes and longer than usual wait-times, servicers are asking those who can, to begin this process online. Borrowers should have monthly income and expense information ready to share with their lender as this will help determine what type of arrangement they qualify for.
“It is important for people to understand that what is currently being offered is not loan forgiveness. With some mortgage relief programs, you may owe all of your skipped payments when the deferment period ends, while others add those payments to the end of the mortgage loan,” says Johanna Jimenez, Take Root Milwaukee Program Manager. Jimenez explained that options for relief vary from lender to lender as will how deferred amounts are ultimately repaid, adding that borrowers should understand exactly what is being offered to them and document when payments will start up again.
At the same time, those who are able to continue making payments in full are encouraged to do so and do not need to take any action at this time.

author: Take Root Milwaukee


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 6, 2020


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14 resources to help you financially weather the COVID-19 storm | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 9, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many strapped for cash. Everyone from business owners to families to artists is feeling the economic effects.
But not all hope is lost.
Groups and organizations throughout Milwaukee and the country are offering financial support and resources to help individuals and families pull through. Here is a list of groups offering assistance.
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Did we miss a group offering financial assistance to those in need? Post it in the comments below or send us an email at info@milwaukeenns.org with the subject line “Financial Help COVID-19.”
Businesses:
U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster loans to help businesses struggling during this time. If a business has experienced economic hardship, it can apply for Disaster Loan Assistance.
Hmong Chamber of Commerce
The Hmong Chamber of Commerce is offering an emergency loan fund in response to COVID-19. Small businesses can apply for a loan starting at $5,000 and up to $10,000. The business is required to have existed for a minimum of two years and be located in a low to moderate income tract or be a minority-owned business in Wisconsin. Once the application is complete, the business owner can send it and the other requirements to Yuli Her, the development coordinator, at yuli@hmongchamber.org.
Brew City Match
Brew City Match is offering a grant for up to $1,200 to help small businesses cover rent and payroll. It also has a Small Business Emergency Loan Fund to help cover rent, payroll and other expenses. Any business within the program area is eligible to apply for either the grant or the loan. The application fee for the is $100. To apply for either, click here.
Energy/Utilities/Mortgage:
Community Advocates
Community Advocates is available by phone for Milwaukee residents seeking assistance with energy assistance, FSET and Housing and Disability Services. To receive energy assistance, individuals are asked to call (414) 270-4653 to schedule an appointment. For general assistance call (414) 270-2941.
We Energies
WEC Energy Group, which manages We Energies, recently stated that it will not disconnect service to any residential customers at this time. If someone is struggling to pay his or her bills, he or she is asked to contact WEC Energy Group to arrange a payment plan. To reach customer service, people in residential areas can call 800-242-9137.
Take Root Milwaukee
In response to COVID-19, many banks, credit unions and mortgage holding companies have created customer assistance programs, which allow a borrower to suspend his or her mortgage payment for up to 180 days. Take Root Milwaukee noted that in some cases it is up to the borrower to contact his or her servicer to request a payment plan. The organization has created a list of banks and other servicers’ contact information. Visit the Take Root Milwaukee website or call (414) 921-4149 for assistance.
Artists:
Arts Wisconsin
Arts Wisconsin has compiled a list of resources for artists. The list includes relief funds as well as opportunities for visual artists to partner with organizations and share their craft.
Imagine MKE
Imagine MKE is raising money for the MKE Artist Relief Fund, which will benefit Milwaukee-based artists. Artists can apply for up to $500. While applications are currently closed, they will reopen once more funds are available.
Food
Hunger Task Force
Hunger Task Force has created an interactive map to help individuals and families find the food sites closest to them.
Feeding America
Feeding America continues to work with food banks across the country. Use the pantry locator to find the pantry closest to you. Some food sites have changed their hours or are offering drive-through only to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
General assistance:
IMPACT 2-1-1
Impact 2-1-1 acts as a starting point and connects individuals to services. Individuals can call 2-1-1 or text his or her ZIP code to TXT-211 [898-211].
United Way
United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County launched a COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund to helps its partners, which serve those in need. If an individual needs assistance he or she is encouraged to call 2-1-1.
Unemployment benefits:
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act employers must provide employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for reasons related to COVID-19. Not all employers fall under the act. For additional information, individuals can call 1-866-487-9243 or go to the U.S. Department of Labor website.
Department of Workforce Development
Individuals who are temporarily out of work can apply for unemployment benefits. The benefits application can be found through the Department of Workforce Development.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 8, 2020


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Post from Community: Starting Thursday, April 9, buses will allow no more than 10 passengers to ride | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee County Transit System
April 9, 2020
(Photo provided by MCTS)
The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is taking additional steps to help increase the ability for riders and employees to follow social distancing guidelines while utilizing MCTS for trips to essential jobs and critical destinations like grocery stores, pharmacies, and hospitals.
Starting Thursday, April 9 and lasting until further notice, a maximum of 10 passengers will be allowed on a bus at any given time. Capping the number of riders on each bus should help occupants avoid close contact with others.
MCTS is also adding incremental service to help overcrowding and reduce wait times if buses are full.
Here’s what riders need to know:
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Buses continue to be for essential trips only. Unless obtaining necessary supplies and services to sustain your life and the lives of others or traveling to and from employment at an “essential business” that is “necessary to sustain life,” you should stay home.
No leisure riding, loitering, or sleeping permitted.
Plan for extra travel time.
As buses become full, drivers will not stop to pick up additional passengers.
Do not ride the bus If you tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), are currently awaiting test results, or think you may have been exposed to someone who has the virus.
Continue to enter and exit the bus through the back door only (unless you need help with a mobility device or other ADA accommodation). Be patient and leave plenty of space between yourself and others while entering and exiting the bus.
If possible, wear a face mask or another type of cloth covering your nose and mouth to prevent illness from spreading.
While MCTS has taken several precautions to protect passengers and employees, it is important that the general public does its part. MCTS bus drivers are on the front lines providing service to those who serve the public – like doctors, nurses, cleaners, grocery store clerks, stockers, and so many others. Please be respectful by following all guidelines and policies listed above and most importantly, only ride the bus for “essential services only.”
For more information, click here.

author: Milwaukee County Transit System


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12 community livestreams you should check out during COVID-19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 10, 2020
Embody Yoga is offering virtual yoga classes during quarantine. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Editor’s note: This list has been updated to include additional creative and wellness livestreams.
For some people, quarantine can be quiet boring, but it doesn’t have to be.
In the era of social distancing, creative individuals and groups have found ways to bring art and wellness to the masses.
Here is a list of places that have turned to livestreaming. From dance classes to yoga to painting to poetry to wellness – there’s something for everyone.
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Did we miss an individual or organization that’s livestreaming? Mention it in the comments below or send an email to info@milwaukeenns.org with the subject line “Creative livestream COVID-19.”
1. Signature Dance Company – livestream
Signature Dance Company is livestreaming its dance lessons on its Facebook page. The lessons begin at noon Monday through Saturday and everyone is invited to not only watch but to participate. Classes are free, but donations are encouraged if possible.
2. Dasha Kelly Hamilton – series and Facebook Live
Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Milwaukee poet laureate, is offering multiple ways for people to tap into their creative side. On Wednesdays in April, Kelly Hamilton, in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Library, will be hosting her Poemalouges series on Facebook and YouTube. The livestream will begin at 4:40 p.m. and go to 5:30 p.m.
Kelly Hamilton will also be hosting writing prompt sessions “I, the Revolution” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in April. The sessions will take place on Zoom. To join the Zoom meeting, call 286-092-903. For additional events, check out The Retreat’s Facebook
3. Heard Space – video chat Zoom
Heard Space is hosting virtual writing sessions on Zoom. The Zoom meetings begin at 6 p.m. and go to 7:30 on every other Tuesday. The next sessions will be held on Tuesday, April 14 and Tuesday, April 28. To learn more about that day’s prompt and for the Zoom link, check out the group’s Facebook page.
4. Artists Working in Education – livestreaming
Artists Working In Education is continuing to engage the community throughout the quarantine. The group is sharing YouTube videos and highlighting local artists on its Facebook page. It also created Art Hang, a virtual place for artists to connect and see each other’s work. Art Hang goes live from noon to 1 p.m. on Fridays. To submit an art piece for the gallery, email a JPEG of your work to john@awe-inc.org with the title, medium and a brief description.
5. Arts @ Large – livestream
Arts @ Large has something for the whole family on its Facebook page. Storytime for children takes place at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays on Facebook Live. Family Arts Day take place at 10 a.m. on Saturdays on Facebook Live. Throughout the week, the group posts additional videos such as bilingual yoga for kids.
6. Vibez Creative Arts Space – livestream and art kits
Vibez Creative Arts Studio may be closed, but the creativity is still flowing. The group has taken to Facebook Live and Instagram to stream its virtual art lessons and happy hours. To see what lessons are happening, visit its Facebook page. Vibez continues to sell its art kits, which can be ordered by texting 414-465-2387.
7. Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall – livestream
Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall is livestreaming virtual classes on its Facebook page every day. Viewers can follow along with supplies they have at home or they can purchase canvas, wood, ceramic or mosaic projects for curbside pickup. Orders can be made online and pickup for craft kits is from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
8. Center Street Wellness – livestreaming and delivery
Center Street Wellness continues to encourage wellness during these trying times. Follow its Facebook page to learn about upcoming events. Additionally, Center Street Wellness is offering free delivery on orders $20 and over. To place an order send a message on Facebook or call (414) 331-1305.
9. Embody Yoga – livestreaming
Embody Yoga is going virtual. Morning Flow is offered at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and is a class for all levels. Participants are asked to register. The class costs $5 per household. Embody Yoga is offering a 15-minute meditation at 12:10 p.m. on Thursdays on its Instagram page.
Embody Yoga has also partnered with the Milwaukee Public Library to lead a mediation series. Meditation begins at 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The link to join the Zoom call for meditation is in the event description.
10. Ex Fabula – Zoom meetings
Ex Fabula has started hosting community StoryCircles on Zoom. These virtual gathering are free and open to the public. Visit the organization’s Facebook page to learn the prompt, and check out its event page for the link to upcoming StoryCircles.
11. Milwaukee Recreation – livestreaming
Milwaukee Recreation is offering health and wellness classes during quarantine. Classes range from yoga to cooking to fitness. Each event will be broadcast live on Milwaukee Recreation’s Facebook page. Visit the Facebook page for the schedule.
12. No Studios – livestreaming and workshops
No Studios is offering two virtual workshops: SkillShare and Unplugged. Skill Share allows for creatives in certain fields to share their expertise. Unplugged features live performances and is aired on Facebook Live. While Unplugged is free, viewers are encouraged to donate to the artists to help support them during quarantine.
13. SKY Schools – livestreaming


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 9, 2020


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5 things to do and know this weekend: COVID-19 edition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 10, 2020
Ayuda Mutua MKE has started a fundraiser to help undocumented families during the COVID-19 quarantine. (File photo by NNS)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Streaming dance party for kids: Every Saturday
88Nine Radio Milwaukee is hosting a streaming dance party for kids from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Saturday. The station will play kid-friendly jams live and invites families to tune in and dance. To tune in, visit the station’s website or ask your smart speaker to “play 88Nine Radio Milwaukee.”
2. Solidarity fund for Wisconsin’s undocumented families
Ayuda Mutua MKE recently launched a  gofundme for undocumented families in Wisconsin. Undocumented families have been excluded from receiving  federal assistance such as unemployment benefits or stimulus checks. Ayuda Mutua is trying to raise funds to help them alleviate the financial burden of COVID-19. The group’s fundraising goal is $25,000.
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3. Take Root Milwaukee mortgage providers contact list
In response to COVID-19, many banks, credit unions and mortgage holding companies have created customer assistance programs, which allow a borrower to suspend his or her mortgage payment for up to 180 days. Take Root Milwaukee noted that in some cases it is up to the borrower to contact his or her servicer to request a payment plan. The organization has created a list of servicers’ contact information. Visit the Take Root Milwaukee website or call (414) 921-4149 for assistance.
4. Milwaukee Recreation offers “Rec. At Home”
Milwaukee Recreation is offering free virtual programming titled “Rec. At Home.” Milwaukee residents can participate in Milwaukee Recreation classes such as yoga, fitness, cooking and more from the safety of their homes. The schedule and classes can be found on the department’s Facebook page.
5. Southside Organizing Center Facebook Live
Southside Organizing Center is holding community forums at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday on Facebook Live. The forums, known as “3 o’clock with SOC,” cover the breaking news and hot topics of the day such as the election, the census, the coronavirus and more. Some of the forums are special editions with featured guests. Community members can submit questions during the forum or through email or calling.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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Post from Community: Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin launches dedicated respiratory care sites | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ascension Wisconsin
April 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Respiratory Care Sites are by appointment only. Patients must be pre-screened by an Ascension Wisconsin provider before visiting a respiratory care site.
Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin launched 13 Respiratory Care Sites this week, including seven in Southeast Wisconsin, that are dedicated to caring for COVID-19 suspected or confirmed patients. These sites are designed for patients with acute respiratory illnesses to receive care in a controlled and safe environment to minimize the spread of COVID-19 to otherwise healthy patients during the pandemic.
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“The goal of these respiratory care locations is to treat those who need immediate care but are neither critically ill nor need to be seen in the emergency department,” said Dr. Patricia Golden, primary care medical director, Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin. “Clinicians and associates at these locations are specially trained in the use of personal protective equipment and disinfection that will occur during and between each patient visit.”
South Region Locations
● Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Milwaukee – Cathedral Square | 734 North Jackson
Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
● Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital – St. Joseph Campus | 3070 N51st Street, Suite 106,
Milwaukee, WI 53209
● Ascension Medical Group – Oak Creek | 8020 S Howell Ave. Oak Creek WI
● Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee – Grafton Clinic Lab | 2061 Cheyenne Court,
Grafton, WI 53024
● Ascension All Saints – Four Mile Road | 2408 4 Mile Road, Racine, WI 53402
● Ascension All Saints – Spring Street Urgent Care | 3807 Spring Street, Racine, WI 53405
● Ascension Medical Group – Marsho Clinic |1703 North Taylor Drive, Sheboygan, WI 53081
SERVICES OFFERED:
Respiratory Care services offered on site include an in-person, full evaluation of acute respiratory concerns, specimen collection for influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) with additional lab and X-ray services available as needed.
SCREENING REQUIRED:
Patients seeking care will need to undergo a respiratory illness screening process before visiting or gaining entry to a respiratory care site, to ensure they receive the appropriate level of care.
HOW TO BE SCREENED:
Patients are screened for respiratory illness care by a registered nurse by calling their local Ascension provider office or by a physician via Ascension Online Care (ascension.org/OnlineCare). Patients who do not have an Ascension provider can call a local Ascension Medical Group clinic for screening, to establish care and have an appointment scheduled.
“Patients who need to be seen will be given an appointment at one of our Respiratory Care Sites, where they can be safely evaluated and treated, including imaging and lab where appropriate,” adds Dr. Golden. “Patients who do not need to be cared for in-person will receive
an appointment at a drive-through testing location if needed, along with a stay-at-home recommendation and a care management plan. This plan may include a regular touch base with their provider through our telehealth service, Ascension Online Care, or by phone.”
Ascension Wisconsin has established a dedicated hotline for COVID-19 questions. This can be accessed toll free, 24/7 by calling 1-833-981-0711. Direct access to COVID-19 online information from Ascension can be found here: healthcare.ascension.org/COVID-19. This online
resource now includes a useful self assessment tool and a symptom chart to help the public understand the difference between the flu, a cold, allergies and COVID-19.
# # #
About Ascension Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, Ascension operates 24 hospital campuses, more than 100 related healthcare facilities and employs more than 1,300 primary and specialty care clinicians from Racine to Eagle River. Serving Wisconsin since 1848, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., operating 2,600 sites of care – including 150 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.

author: Ascension Wisconsin


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Post from Community: Bouchards donates 10,000 masks to Milwaukee area hospitals and first responders | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bouchards Brands
April 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Bouchards Brands, Milwaukee’s own premier fashion boutiques and the Maison dé Bouchard clothing line, are making available for donation 10,000 surgical masks to help Milwaukee-area hospitals and first responders stay safe while battling this COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 10, 2020, Bouchards Brands plans to distribute the masks to Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, City of Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee Fire Department and Milwaukee County Transit System.
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Gino Murrar, President of Bouchards Brands, stated “Milwaukee has been home to Bouchards Brands for over 30 years.  As we face what could possibly be the greatest adversary of our generation, we knew it was our moral obligation to contribute what we could during this battle.  We are making this donation because we are grateful to our city and the heroes that are protecting it.  Our families, our employees and our customers’ safety are all dependent upon these dedicated men and women.  We feel that it is our duty to do everything that we can do, using all of the resources that we have to offer them support.  We hope that this will also inspire everyone, including other businesses and companies, to do what they can as well.
After speaking with a nurse and some of Milwaukee’s finest police officers, we realized the horrific conditions that they are dealing with.  This is not a time for us to think about fashion; it is a time to fight for basic survival. It only made sense for us to contact our manufacturing partners, utilizing our resources and bring in these PPE for these heroes.  It is just a small token of our appreciation for all that they do.”
Deshea Agee, Executive Director of Historic King Drive BID, commented “Bouchards Brands contribution to these organizations show the value this local business places on Milwaukee residents and our first responders. At a time when the COVID 19 pandemic is threatening the health and safety of our community, it is great to see the owners of Bouchards make this donation to help save lives.”
Brief History of Bouchards Brands
Bouchards has been operating in Milwaukee since 1988.  It has been a destination for fashion apparel, footwear and accessories for men, women and children.  Currently it operates at two locations as well as online at shopbouchards.com.
Maison dé Bouchard was established in 2016 to offer more luxury brands to the community.  The first boutique of its kind in Milwaukee, Maison dé Bouchard also operates at two locations, its own private label as well as online at maisondebouchard.com.

author: Bouchards Brands


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Post from Community: Communities Making A Difference – A Virtual Town Hall Meeting | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jacqueline Zeledon
April 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Recent events related to Wisconsin’s April Primary Election and COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) show how much Milwaukee’s African American voices need to be heard on all levels of government. Our voices need to be heard on issues ranging from having access to funding for education to access to quality healthcare for all.
On Wednesday, April 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host “Communities Making a Difference: A Virtual Town Hall Meeting.” This free event will feature questions from the audience and will be moderated by the Democratic National Convention Host Committee Chief Operating Officer Paula Penebaker, and Reggie Brown, V100.7’s On-Air Afternoon Personality. Guests include elected and city officials from City and County of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin. To register, go to dstmilwaukee.org or click here.
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Delta’s virtual town hall meeting, sponsored by its Social Action Committee, aims to increase the awareness of why it’s so important to participate in the 2020 Census. In addition, the event will address how Milwaukee’s African American community has suffered such a disproportionate number of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases and what can be done to reduce and prevent the spread as well as prevent future public health emergencies.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded in 1913 on the campus of Howard University to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities. Today Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has over 250,000 initiated members and more than 900 chapters worldwide, including seven in Wisconsin. The Sorority uses its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement to create its national and local programs.

author: Jacqueline Zeledon


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Town-Hall-2.JPG | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 9, 2020


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Post from Community: Goodwill laundry employees providing linen for local hospitals receive message from Donald Driver | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jess Owens
April 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Many people recognize Goodwill for their retail locations, but the non-profit is much more than that offering a variety of services and programs true to their mission to provide training, employment and supportive services for people with disabilities or disadvantages who seek greater independence.
One example is Goodwill’s commercial laundry and linen operation which has provided clean linens to local hospitals and clinics since 1974, when they began handling laundry for Naval Station Great Lakes, a U.S. Naval Base. Currently, Goodwill operates one of the largest laundry facilities in Wisconsin, processing laundry for customers in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.
“We’re one of the only vendors in healthcare laundry where the product is delivered directly to the patient,” said Danny Harris, director linen services. “Our team understands that the right linen, in the right place, at the right time has a tremendous impact on patient experience.”
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As an essential business, workers at the laundry facility are on the front lines now more than ever, supporting health care workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Goodwill Laundry & Linen staff are equipped to handle infectious diseases and other viruses that would typically be treated at a hospital, however as guidelines change to combat COVID-19, so have the safety precautions being taken in the laundry facility.
“As a partner of the AbilityOne Program, over 60% of the laundry employees have significant disabilities. Along with making sure employees are current with their standard training, our team is practicing the recommended guidelines including social distancing, hand washing, wearing protective equipment and staying home when sick,” explained Harris.
Additionally, Goodwill nursing staff monitors all employees, screening every person each day they report to work to ensure they remain healthy.
Last week, former Green Bay Packers player and spokesperson Donald Driver sent the Goodwill Laundry & Linen staff a special message of encouragement to let them know he was thinking of them and proud of the work they’re doing.
“I’ve always been proud of the work that you all do,” said Driver. “But I’m even more proud today than ever. You’re on the front lines of this fight…you guys are true heroes.”
Scale operator Donald Young was blown away to receive the message and shared that he appreciated the kind words. “To know that you’re doing something for someone else during a time when a lot of people need help, that’s amazing.”
“With capacity to process more than 20 million pounds of linen annually, we’re here to be a community partner to any healthcare facility that needs help during this critical time,” shared Harris.

author: Jess Owens


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Donald_Young_Goodwill_final.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 10, 2020


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Post from Community: KGMB Summer Camps 2020 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful
April 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Join us for two, fun-filled week long summer camps!
Eco-Kids Camp explores environmental topics through science and nature based activities, games, and art projects. Investigate living compost, create trash art projects, and learn more about our state tree, the sugar maple. Participants must have completed grades 2 and 3.
Planet Protectors Camp delves into these environmental topics with a focus on sustainability. Discover ways to protect the Earth through design challenges, calculating your personal energy usage, and touring and talking with professionals in the field of sustainability. Participants must have completed grades 5 and 6.
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author: Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful


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Summer-Camp-2020-FB-Cover-Photo.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 9, 2020


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Post from Community: PNC Foundation donates to United Way’s COVID-19 urgent needs fund to provide meals for residents at Clare Hall | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
April 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County announced today a donation from the PNC Foundation to support United Way’s COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund. PNC’s support will help provide meals for the next three months to residents of Clare Hall, a vacant seminary converted to help the homeless and those most vulnerable to COVID-19. PNC is one of 23 companies who have made a contribution to this special fund set up by United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County as a way to assist nonprofit agency partners with their most pressing needs and essential services during the COVID-19 crisis.
“We are so incredibly grateful to everyone who has reached out and offered their support for our Urgent Needs Fund,” said Amy Lindner, president & CEO of United Way. “Their generosity is helping our nonprofit agency partners with their essential services—services that are helping so many people in need.”
Through a partnership between United Way, the City and County of Milwaukee, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and the Wisconsin National Guard, those who are homeless and especially vulnerable to COVID-19 are being housed at Clare Hall, a building on the Saint Francis de Sales seminary grounds just south of Milwaukee. One wing of the building will be used to house older adults and other high-risk COVID-19 residents, while another wing will house homeless individuals already COVID-19 symptomatic.
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“PNC stands committed, alongside the greater Milwaukee business community, to support our neighbors during this critical time,” said Chris Goller, PNC regional president for Wisconsin. “The new initiative at Clare Hall will help provide a safe place for those in need of self-quarantine, while helping to flatten the curve for those who have no other form of shelter.”
Companies who have made contributions to the United Way COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund include: American Family Insurance, American Transmission Co., Baird, BMO Harris Bank, Deloitte, Festival Foods, First Midwest Bank, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, The Friendship House of Milwaukee, Felss Rotaform LLC, GE Healthcare, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, HSA Bank, Landmark Credit Union, Meijer, Northwestern Mutual, PwC, Rockwell Automation, UW Credit Union, We Energies Foundation, Wells Fargo, and Weyco Group.
In addition to supporting nonprofit agency partners, the United Way COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund is also supporting COVID-negative homeless individuals by sheltering them at local hotels. Milwaukee County’s Housing Division has negotiated to use available hotel space to provide up to 80 rooms. This action will offset the burden on local shelters and promote safe social distancing.
Donations to the COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund can be made directly at UnitedWayGMWC.org.


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Post from Community: Virtual Information Sessions about i.c.stars |* Milwaukee going on weekly! | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
i.c. stars
April 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
i.c.stars |* Milwaukee is hiring for it’s 6th Cycle!
20 interns train in Business, Leadership & Technology skills for FREE!!
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We pay you to learn, $150/weekly stipend.
Program info: 8am-8pm, Monday through Friday for 4 months.
Next group starts July 2020!
Get a job at companies like:  Northwestern Mutual, CBRE, Von Briesen & Roper, Cargill, Children’s Hospital, etc.
Learn to code and launch a career!
Minimum Requirements:
-High school diploma/GED
-6 months work experience in any position/volunteering as well
-Motivated for social change
-Tech interest
-Needs based program
-Partial to no college preferred
Apply here:  icstars.org
To attend an info session, visit our fb page or check eventbrite to RSVP!

author: i.c. stars


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Ready-for-a-change_-2.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 10, 2020


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Post from Community: The Urban Ecology Center launches a Learning Virtual Site “Urban Ecology Center In My Backyard” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Urban Ecology Center
April 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
While social distancing has been keeping us cooped up in our houses for weeks, our work is very alive and we want to keep encouraging everyone to get outside in their neighborhoods and connect with nature. To make this happen, we have launched a new virtual educational platform, the Urban Ecology Center In My Backyard. This way we can continue our critical mission of keeping people connected to both nature and each other on virtual naturalist hikes, activity suggestions for kids and families, research one can assist with while at home and much, much more.
“In My Backyard” has environmental educational content for families, ideas for how to learn from nature, fun activities to share and more, with the goal of providing tons of resources for all ages to help people enjoy their nearby nature.
People’s “backyard” maybe be a local park, an empty plot down the street, or it may be connected to each home. Wherever it is, the Urban Ecology Center is here to help make it everyone’s very own Urban Ecology Center until we can open our doors again.
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Here is what the community will discover in this virtual learning site:
Backyard Classroom. A place to check out resources for fun, lessons and how-tos.
Backyard Adventures. When our experts can’t lead you in person, these resources will guide people’s journey to enjoy the nearest green spaces.
Backyard Research. The guidance and inspiration in these resources will help the community conduct their own backyard research that contribute to global projects!
We will be updating this site regularly and our goal is to make it a tool for people to check out on a regular basis.
The Urban Ecology Center also wants to invite the community to share their”backyard” experiences by using #uecinmybackyard
Explore the Urban Ecology Center In My Backyard today!

author: Urban Ecology Center


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UEC_InMyBackyard_WebHeader-home.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 10, 2020


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5 things to know the week of April 13 in Milwaukee: The COVID-19 edition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
April 13, 2020
Election results from last week are expected to be released on Monday, April 13. (Photo by Bridget Fogarty)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Election results coming soon: Monday, April 13
Today is the day we learn the results from the April 7 spring primary. The state’s elections commission had ordered municipal clerks not to release any results until April 13. So if you or a loved one braved the ballot box, voted early or mailed in an absentee ballot know that results are coming soon.
2. Milwaukee County Transit System updates
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As of Thursday, April 9, Milwaukee County Transit System is limiting the number of riders per bus to 10. This is to ensure that riders can maintain the CDC recommended physical distance of 6 feet. Routes with higher ridership will see an increase in the number of buses. Riders are asked to only use the bus for essential trips and to exercise caution when riding the bus. If it looks too full, wait for the next one.
3. Celebrate Milwaukee on 414 Day: Tuesday, April 14
Milwaukeeans are encouraged to celebrate and recognize the city on Tuesday, April 14, Milwaukee’s annual day. 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, along with its sponsors, will be hosting a virtual celebration.
4. Urban Ecology Center’s new program
The Urban Ecology Center recently launched a new initiative, “In My Backyard.” The program encourages residents to explore their “backyard,” be it a local park or something connected to their home. It offers three options for resources and exploration: Backyard Classroom, Backyard Adventures and Backyard Research.
5. Medical College of Wisconsin webinars
The Medical College of Wisconsin is working hard to bring up-to-date information on COVID-19. As part of its outreach, the college is offering Milwaukeeans a chance to join in on its daily briefings and its Community Town Hall meetings. The webinars are free, but community members are asked to register to receive the link. During the town hall meetings, listeners can ask questions and hear from professionals. The Medical College of Wisconsin also has a full list of COVID-19 resources.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 12, 2020


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Post from Community: Milwaukee tap water is safe to drink and use during COVID-19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works
April 13, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Milwaukee tap water is safe to drink and use. Our treatment and disinfection processes kill viruses, including COVID-19. Safe, healthy tap water is available at a much lower cost than bottled water.
Our Customer Service Center is closed to walk-in service at the Zeidler Municipal Services Building but we remain staffed and open to help customers with their bills and accounts. Please call us at (414) 286-2830 if you cannot pay by mailing a check, or pay online at milwaukee.gov/water/Customer Service.
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Water is critical in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. To make sure everyone is able to practice good hygiene, we want you to know we never shut off water for non-payment of bills. Please pay what you can when the bill is due.
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has ordered all utilities to suspend late fees during the public health emergency.
Milwaukee Water Works has suspended meter exchanges so we can maintain social distancing between customers and our employees, unless one is necessary to restore water service.


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‘We expect, encounter and survive in crisis situations all the time’: How Milwaukee grassroots leaders mobilized to help voters on Election Day | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Fogarty
April 13, 2020
Violence interrupters from 414 Life helped distribute 1,500 masks Election Day. (Photo provided by Reggie Moore, City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention)
Ashley Lee woke up Election Day to social media posts from friends worried they would miss the 8 p.m. deadline to return their absentee ballots.
Recognizing the importance of an historic election where every vote could matter, she immediately jumped into action on Facebook, offering to pick up ballots for anyone who needed help.
“You know people are going to be in danger and going to lose their vote if you don’t do something,” said Lee, a Sherman Park resident and the executive director of Public Allies, a social justice organization that trains young leaders.
Lee was among the community organizers who worked to ensure residents remained safe and had their voices heard Tuesday.
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Just the day before, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers issued an emergency executive order that pushed in-person voting for Wisconsin’s spring primary back to June 9.
But Republican lawmakers in Madison rejected the order and took the issue to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which reinstated Tuesday’s elections.
Then the U.S. Supreme Court got into the act, ruling voters would have to mail back their absentee ballots by Election Day, go to the polls that day or forfeit their opportunity to vote.
With only five voting centers open instead of the usual 180 sites, voters were forced to choose between possibly risking their health during a pandemic or forfeiting a constitutional right.
The masks were provided by the Medical College of Wisconsin and Unite MKE from materials donated by Rebel Converting, a Saukville company that produces hospital disinfectant wipes. (Photo provided by Reggie Moore, City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention)
Neighbors helping neighbors
Throughout the day, Lee’s team of 10 women picked up absentee ballots from pregnant mothers, elderly residents and immunocompromised individuals stuck at home. They also came to the aid of a health care worker on his way to his shift at a hospital. Volunteers then brought the ballots to drop-off sites.
The team was able to reach 80 households and picked up about 100 absentee ballots.
(As of April 9, 74,699 absentee ballots have been returned out of the 96,712 issued, according to the Milwaukee Elections Commission.)
“It was inspiring and frustrating watching people hold together a broken system,” Lee said. “This is how deeply flawed the system is.”
Even though members of the community stepped up, Lee said their good deeds cannot overshadow the systemic racism and voter suppression that occurred Tuesday.
“The nature of our work means that we expect, encounter and survive in crisis situations all the time,” Lee said. “People can respond quickly and organize people and be thoughtful and get things translated and get messages sent out because they are accustomed to bad decisions being made that leave our people in the lurch.”
Volunteers and board members from Leaders Igniting Transformation, or LIT, a youth-focused civic engagement and advocacy organization, also worked throughout Election Day to relay information to residents.
The organization, however, did not encourage residents to risk their health and go to the polls.
“This was no longer an election but an execution of communities of color by sending them to the polls,” said Dakota Hall, the organization’s founder. The organization had been petitioning Evers to postpone the election since March 17. Hall said for future elections, the group will encourage voters to turn in their absentee ballots as soon as possible.
Hamid Abd-Al-Jabbar (left), a violence interrupter and outreach worker at 414 Life, helped distribute 1,500 masks Election Day. (Photo provided by Reggie Moore, City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention)
Ensuring safety
Safety also remained on the mind of Hamid Abd-Al-Jabbar, who started his day around noon at Marshall High School.
He is a violence interrupter and outreach worker at 414 Life, a violence-prevention program based in Milwaukee neighborhoods and hospitals.
Abd-Al-Jabbar, along with staff from 414 Life and the city Office of Violence Prevention, helped distribute over 1,500 masks. The masks came from the Medical College of Wisconsin and Unite MKE, a group that provides health and social services to at-risk populations in Milwaukee. Rebel Converting, a Saukville company that produces hospital disinfectant wipes, donated materials for the two organizations to make and distribute.
“The voting process was a whole different animal,” Abd-Al-Jabbar said. Because of long lines, he said, it was difficult for individuals to maintain the social distance of 6 feet recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While distributing masks at Washington High School in the evening, Abd-Al-Jabbar saw some poll workers trying to close lines earlier than the official 8 p.m. cutoff. Some voters started to get frustrated, and he stepped in with co-workers to help calm them.
Reggie Moore, the director of the Office of Violence Prevention, which partners with 414 Life, said Tuesday’s election serves as a reminder of ongoing disparities that impact African Americans in Milwaukee and why the fight against voter disenfranchisement must be a priority.
“Residents of Milwaukee were put in a perilous position where their health was potentially compromised,” he said. “When I think of the 1,500 individuals who received those masks, I hope this has literally saved people from getting sick or dying of this virus.”

author: Bridget Fogarty


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 13, 2020

author: Adam Carr


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What’s it like to test positive for the coronavirus? We talk to three residents to find out. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
April 14, 2020
(Photo provided by Rebecca Quesada)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the timeline and circumstances of Ms. Walton’s diagnosis and self-quarantine.
Rebecca Quesada did everything she was told when COVID-19 invaded Milwaukee.
The 65-year-old ESL support teacher made sure to be mindful of social distancing, regularly washed her hands thoroughly and disinfected surfaces in her Jackson Park home. Despite these efforts, the virus found her in mid-March.
“I never thought I’d get it, because I was doing what I was supposed to do,” she said.
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“At first I thought it was pneumonia. I had pneumonia before, and it felt similar early on,” she said. “I think I was in denial because I didn’t want to have it.”
Quesada wasn’t the only one caught off-guard by the coronavirus.
Both Ladonna Walton, 44, of Lindsay Heights, and state Rep. David Bowen, 33, of the Rufus King neighborhood, both thought they had caught a cold.
As her symptoms progressed and her “body began to shut down,” Walton visited the hospital. After a six-hour wait, she was tested for coronavirus and ordered to self-quarantine for four days. She was not informed that she tested positive for the virus until two weeks later.
At home, Walton’s condition worsened.
(Photo provided by Ladonna Walton)
She developed a cough, a fever hitting 104, muscle aches and a loss of smell and taste. Her bones hurt, and she had trouble breathing. It got so bad, she was afraid to go to sleep for fear she wouldn’t wake up.
“I was thinking to myself, ‘My son’s going to find me dead in the house.’ I was checking my life insurance and thinking about adding more to it,” said Walton, the program coordinator for the Family Resource Center at Children’s Outing Association.
Like Walton, Bowen was able to ride the virus out at home. Over two weeks, his symptoms progressed from a minor cough and body aches to a fever of 103, shortness of breath and an intensifying cough. He said he also experienced chills that had him bundled up inside his home despite his fever.
“I was just worn out all the time,” Bowen said. “I didn’t feel like I was going to die necessarily, just that it was never going to end.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms for the coronavirus include a fever, dry cough and shortness of breath two to 14 days after initial exposure to the virus. A vast majority of cases have been mild with patients eventually experiencing full recovery, but those over 60 or patients with conditions such as diabetes, asthma or autoimmune diseases are at a higher risk of contracting a severe case.
Emergency warning signs for COVID-19 include difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or bluish lips or face.
‘I thought I was a goner’
Unlike Walton and Bowen, Quesada’s symptoms were bad enough early on to be admitted to the hospital after testing positive.
She was put on hydroxychloroquine, a drug typically used to treat malaria but is now being tested as a possible treatment for COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She also was battling pneumonia, which left her physically and emotionally weak.
“Have you ever drank something and it went down the wrong pipe? It felt like that, but all the time,” Quesada remembered.
“At one point the doctor asked if I wanted to be resuscitated if I went into cardiac arrest. I thought I was a goner.”
Though she says she’s lost 15 pounds and still has a persistent cough, Quesada has recovered and is back home.
‘I was lucky’
“I was lucky I had a primary care physician who told me to go to the hospital early on,” Walton said. “If I didn’t have a primary care physician, what would I have done?”
(Photo provided by David Bowen)
Bowen, as a member of the state Assembly, says he was thinking about the state of medical care for black Milwaukeeans before COVID-19 arrived and how comparatively high rates of conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes among them “gives the virus fuel to destroy you.”
“Three deaths of black men early on in Milwaukee County turn into 13 deaths of black folks, which turns into black folks making up over 70% of COVID-19 deaths in Milwaukee County despite being around 25% of the population” he added.
At the time of his interview Wednesday, a little over 71% of people who have died from COVID-19 in Milwaukee County were black, according to Milwaukee County data.
That same data reported that black people made up just over 45% of COVID-19 cases, or 658 out of 1,461 total cases. In 2018, the American Community Survey estimated that about 28.5% of Milwaukee County’s population was black.
(Milwaukee County is tracking COVID-19-related deaths and confirmed cases. For the most up-to-date numbers, visit its website.)
Meanwhile, as she recovers, Quesada is asking Milwaukeeans without symptoms to still act as though they have them. This means self-quarantining, wearing masks and staying physically distant from other people if you do have to go out. Not doing so carries risks for other community members.
“It’s like driving drunk. You may end up fine, but you’re endangering everyone around you,” Quesada said.
“Please heed the warnings,” she said. “You don’t want to be that person who unknowingly kills someone.”
In case you missed it: A quick guide to understanding COVID-19

author: Sam Woods


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Adam Carr
April 13, 2020


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Adam Carr
April 13, 2020


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Adam Carr
April 13, 2020


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Checking in: How are you doing as we confront the coronavirus? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Claudia Delgadillo
April 15, 2020
So, how are you doing?
We continue to check in with our community as we learn to live with the challenges of COVID-19.
‘Learning to embrace the small things I tend to take for granted’
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Who: Aja Janay, owner of Heal + Glow
How’s your life been since we’ve been told to stay home?
Initially I was grateful. I’m such a homebody, I was excited to be working in the comforts of my own home. I’ve been yearning to have the opportunity to stay home to focus on creative projects and skills.
It’s currently transitioning into an opportunity to face myself, to deal with my demons, reveal my own toxic behaviors, unpacking the trauma that I’m usually forced to suppress so I can go about my day to day.
I’ve been using this time to do a lot of introspective work. I’ve been learning to embrace the small things I tend to take for granted. Like how beautiful the birds sound when they’re practicing a song early when the sun rises.
What do you feel you need more of?
I need more social interaction for sure. I wish I could visit my family more, and I miss seeing my friends at work. However, I understand the importance of solitude. I feel like I need a little bit more certainty from our government as far as how this pandemic will shape our day-to-day in the future. I wish I knew how long this quarantine will truly last, but I can’t afford to allow myself to spiral into those thoughts.
What do you feel you need less of?
I’ve had my fair share of anxiety attacks and crying spells during this time. I need less of that for sure. I’ve been using this time to clean house. I’ve been working to let go of all the things that don’t serve me, internally and externally. So I’ve been limiting my time on social media as much as I can.
Say something to inspire your neighbor.
Attempt to spend this time to release what no longer serves you. Spread love and give thanks.
‘I never imagined life would shift this quickly’
Who: Tiffany Miller, owner of FlyBlooms
How has your life been since we’ve been told to stay home?
Life at home has been both beautiful and challenging. I am usually on the go with teaching and creating for FlyBlooms at The Bronzeville Collective MKE. Everything has gone online, even the way we do business.
Teaching is online, too. Shout-out to my scholars and teachers at Milwaukee College Prep – Lloyd Street. We shifted pretty seamlessly and equipped our scholars with technology right away.
I really miss physically seeing people. I miss hugging folks. Social distancing walks are a thing and so are online happy hours. I currently have a six-foot table propped up in my living room and fabric draped across my couch. My sewing machine and serge live in my office now.
What do you feel you need more of?
I need more bright sunny days with a warm breeze so I can sit on my deck and enjoy the fresh air or walk around my neighborhood admiring the beauty of older homes. I want to say I need more hugs, but that won’t happen for a while.
What do you need less of?
I need less screen time. My time on the computer has skyrocketed. I even had to purchase blue light filter frames. Everything is online now. I never imagined life would shift this quickly.
Say something to inspire your neighbor.
Hey, neighbor. It’s good to see you!
In case you missed it: Checking in: How are you doing as we confront the coronavirus?

author: Claudia Delgadillo


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Adam Carr
April 14, 2020


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NNS on WGLB radio: Deputy editor Adam Carr calls in to discuss election and coronavirus coverage | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
April 15, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS deputy editor Adam Carr called in to WGLB to discuss NNS’s recent COVID-19 coverage with Saryea Murchison and Dennis Walton of WGLB.
They discussed takeaways from the infamous Election Day as well as other stories that have resonated with readers.
To see all our coronavirus coverage, click here.
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author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
April 15, 2020


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OPINION: South Korea can teach the U.S. lessons in how to contain the coronavirus | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Nicholas Kane
April 15, 2020
Nicholas Kane uses an elevator in Seoul, South Korea, equipped with hand sanitizer and buttons with anti-virus lamination. (Photo provided by Nicholas Kane)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Nicholas Kane, who grew up in West Allis and currently resides in Seoul, South Korea, shares lessons he’s witnessed from Korea’s response to COVID-19.
Growing up in West Allis, I never met anyone wearing a mask besides a firefighter or an asbestos remover. I was first introduced to a clinical mask on a routine visit to my university health clinic. I thought it was ridiculous because I was already sick and couldn’t’t possibly get any sicker. I took it off and shook my head. The doctor then added a gentle, “No, no, no… the mask is important for us doctors trying to help the sick students.”
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She slowly took her latex-gloved hands and repositioned the mask on my face. At that instance, I realized masks aren’t only used by workers in hazardous environments, but also to prevent others from becoming ill. I felt a sense of shame and selfishness.
I first arrived in Korea teaching English to businessmen. I was teaching a CEO that was wearing a three-piece suit, tie and, yes, a mask. I asked him, “Why are you wearing a mask? Maybe it’s not necessary because the pollution particles are so small, and I think you are strong enough to withstand any illness!” I thought my comments would be a compliment to the older man’s resilience.
He stared at me for a while trying to gather his thoughts and said, “In Asia, we wear masks because we don’t want to get others sick. If we cough and are not wearing a mask, the person next to us becomes uncomfortable and we may infect them. Also, I am wearing a special mask. I am wearing what is called an N95 respirator that can block out very fine particles which includes most pollutants.”
My comment didn’t lead to any camaraderie with my student. Instead, it made me look ignorant.
I then traveled to Japan and noticed many wearing masks and knew right away they were ill, so I gave them some space. During the 2015 MERs epidemic in Korea, many Koreans began wearing masks again. The Western English teachers thought it was ridiculous. One of my co-workers even put on a mask and we laughed, exclaiming that he looked like a surgeon.
Within a week of the current pandemic, the Korean government pushed mask manufacturers to produce 50 million masks! The mask shortage only lasted for a few days. We are allowed two masks per week and our information is stored in a government database to prevent hoarding. Additionally, only people born in certain years are allowed to purchase a mask on a given day.
I mention the mask, in part, because I believe it’s a byproduct of Eastern philosophy. Korea as well as other Asian countries are collective societies, with the success of the group praised higher than the success of an individual. Even though I’ve witnessed Korean society to be ultra-competitive and occasionally unforgiving, citizens still care about the health and prosperity of the community.
In the West, we are more individualistic, so we only wear a mask to benefit ourselves and our older relatives. I began to realize this when people on social media touted, “The mask won’t protect me so I’m not wearing one!”
Another aspect is hygiene. The citizens of many Asian countries take extreme pride in excessive cleanliness. In fact, It’s not uncommon for a Korean guest to arrive at your house and begin cleaning for you. This is their sign of showing love. If they are close friends with you, they might start doing your dishes and mopping your floor. Many of my Korean friends in America, both male and female, do this upon entering my apartment.
During the epidemic you will see Korean workers cleaning their shops with antiviral chemicals. They sanitize all railings and all shopping carts nonstop. To enter a government building a man will take your temperature, hand you a mask, and issue hand sanitizer. I usually see two hand sanitizers per desk or a 32 oz. bottle of sanitizer! If you fail to wear the mask, have a fever and don’t sanitize your hands, you cannot enter. There is an antiviral plastic coating that can be applied to frequently touched surfaces.
Korea is very densely populated in comparison to Wisconsin. Wisconsin has a population of 5.8 million and Korea has a population of 51.5 million. In fact, Korea is 49.82 times more densely populated than Wisconsin! With these circumstances, social distancing is quite difficult, maybe even impossible, so Korea has compensated by using proper hygiene. This is a testament that hygiene may be more effective than social distancing.
Another factor playing into the effectiveness of their response — Koreans love to do things quickly. I don’t think anyone, including Koreans, know why this is. However, Koreans are always yelling, “Bahli, bahli!” to one another on the streets. This is the first Korean word I learned due to its prevalence. It means, “Hurry, hurry!”
This mentality was crucial in the development of a way to test for the virus. The Korean company, Seegene, used artificial intelligence to develop an accurate coronavirus testing kit before the virus arrived in Korea! The epicenter of the virus, Daegu, didn’t lock down. Instead, they began extensive testing around the clock. Seegene sent several thousand kits to Daegu. Those who tested positive were immediately treated in isolation. When the hospitals reached capacity, they successfully transported the patients to a hospital in another city. Those who tested positive were never released back into the general population. Accommodations were made.
Shops did not close in Daegu. As a matter of fact, coffee shop employees would greet you with a happy phrase upon entering. Korea eventually developed drive-through testing across the country. These tests were free and available to all who needed it. Currently, there are fifteen Korean pharmaceutical companies trying to develop a vaccine! Don’t be surprised if a coronavirus vaccine is developed by a Korean company as they have started trials before any other country.
Both the United States and Korea saw their first coronavirus cases on the same day, Jan. 20. By April 2, the U.S. had more than 240,000 cases and more than 5,800 deaths. In contrast, South Korea on April 2 had fewer than 10,000 confirmed cases and 169 deaths.
Even though I am in Korea, I love America and believe my home country has many advantages. However, we are not invincible. We can learn a great deal from our friends around the world. We must closely observe the Koreans and their success. Many Americans believe we are the most powerful nation in the world. They are probably correct. However, we must not be stubborn and acknowledge the brilliance of the Korean government and its citizens.

author: Nicholas Kane


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Post from Community: Love Your Block MKE mini-grant extends boundaries and application deadline | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Love Your Block MKE
April 16, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Love Your Block Milwaukee program provides opportunities for community members and organizations to engage residents in revitalizing their neighborhood through mini-grant-funded block projects on city-owned lots. The Love Your Block (LYB) program is supported by the City of Milwaukee and Cities of Service, an international nonprofit.
As of April 1st, Love Your Block MKE will fund projects located up to five blocks away from the City’s Targeted Investment Neighborhoods (TINs). here. The extended application deadline for Love Your Block’s mini-grant is May 1st.here
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Example projects include pocket parks, gardens, art installations, information boards, and neighborhood cleanups. However, we are open to other ideas residents may want in their community!
To see last year’s Love Your Block projects click here.
If you are interested in applying, volunteering, and/or have any questions, feel free to check out our website, call 414-708-6270 or email us at: loveyourblock@milwaukee.gov,   if you have any questions.

author: Love Your Block MKE


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April 16, 2020

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Post from Community: Cousins Subs introduces Cousins Cares | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Nicholas Reddy
April 16, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Cousins Subs® announced today the launch of Cousins Cares – a campaign through which guests can pay it forward and order free meals to be delivered to hardworking, essential employees in Wisconsin.
“Every day, especially during these unprecedented times, we strive to make it better for our communities,” said Justin McCoy, Vice President of Marketing at Cousins Subs. “We’re looking forward to partnering with guests in our home state of Wisconsin to show appreciation for essential employees who are working diligently to improve the lives of our neighbors in need.”
As part of Cousins Cares, guests can place an order for a 20-Piece Party Box for delivery to an essential business in their community. Through April 30, participants will receive $15 off their order of a 20-Piece Party Box and will not be charged a delivery fee.
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To place an order, the public is asked to call or visit a participating Cousins Subs location and provide the name, address and phone number of the essential business the 20-Piece Party Box will be delivered to.
Online and mobile ordering are not permitted. Each 20-Piece Party Box contains Ham & Provolone and Turkey subs.
Benefitting essential businesses are encouraged to post a photo of their Cousins Cares delivery order on social media using #CousinsCares and #LocalAtHeart.
Cousins Subs will introduce additional opportunities to pay it forward through Cousins Cares in the upcoming weeks. To find a Cousins Subs location participating in the Cousins Cares initiative, visit: www.cousinssubs.com/cousinscareslocations.

author: Nicholas Reddy


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April 14, 2020


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Post from Community: Milwaukee jazz institute offers online jazz classes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Jazz Institute
April 16, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
In response to the current pandemic crisis, the Milwaukee Jazz Institute (MJI) is offering online classes, free of charge, as part of its new program the Jazz Circle. Many school jazz programs have been disrupted by the current situation and many aspiring musicians of all ages are looking to continue learning about jazz, so MJI is offering these classes in an effort to help the community during this challenging time. MJI artistic director Mark Davis and MJI education director Eric Jacobson will teach  beginning Tuesday, April 14. Middle and high school students, as well as adults wishing to participate need to register in advance for each class they plan to attend by visiting https://www.milwaukeejazzinstitute.org/workshops-and-classes.
MJI also offers an  that features top jazz performers who share their knowledge and expertise on a range of topics that include jazz history, vocal and instrumental techniques, improvisation, and business of music. “If you’re an aficionado or just getting into jazz, a seasoned pro or just starting out, you’ll find these sessions to be beneficial and fun,” said MJI artistic director, Mark Davis. For a complete schedule and to purchase tickets visit www.milwaukeejazzinstitute.org/workshops-and-classes. Due to a great response to the online programs MJI has already held they have plans in the works for more. Be sure to check back often or subscribe to the MJI website to stay up to date.
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Those looking for more information about MJI can visit www.milwaukeejazzinstitute.org or call (414) 234-5565.
The Milwaukee Jazz Institute promotes jazz through education and performance, building awareness of this art form’s ability to transform lives and strengthen our community. MJI seeks to expand and diversify the local audience for jazz and to create opportunities for professional and aspiring musicians.

author: Milwaukee Jazz Institute


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Jazz-Circle.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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April 10, 2020


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Post from Community: Zilber Family Foundation commits $3 Million in funding to support COVID-19 response | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Zilber Family Foundation
April 16, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Zilber Family Foundation Board of Directors recently announced the allocation of $3 million in emergency funding to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will support organizations in Milwaukee, where the Foundation invests the majority of its resources, as well as in Hawaii, where it makes more targeted grants.
The new grants will support general operating expenses for the Foundation’s current grantees and immediate response efforts to meet the urgent needs of those adversely affected by COVID-19. Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis and allocated across three categories:
“Many of our nonprofit partners serve on the front lines of the pandemic and need a quick infusion of funding to help meet an increase in demand for services and programs, and to maintain financial stability during this crisis. We want to ensure that nonprofits and the communities they serve are able to respond to this crisis and thrive in the future,” said Gina Stilp, executive director. The Foundation is inspired by our community coming together at this unprecedented time, and we will continue to contribute critical and targeted resources as the situation evolves.”
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Interested organizations can find the application, including eligibility and funding requirements, at zilberfamilyfoundation.org.
In addition to the COVID-19 funding, Zilber Family Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $1.5 million to 19 nonprofit organizations. The grants support organizations that address affordable housing and community economic development in the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative’s three targeted Milwaukee neighborhoods of Lindsay Heights, Clarke Square, and Layton Boulevard West. Additional grants support organizations focused on youth development and basic human needs in Milwaukee and Hawaii.
About the Zilber Family Foundation
Formed in 1961 by Joseph J. Zilber, the Zilber Family Foundation is a private independent grantmaking institution dedicated to enhancing the well-being of individuals, families, and neighborhoods by supporting nonprofits to address basic needs and personal safety, increase access to social and economic opportunity, and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. For more information, please visit: www.zilberfamilyfoundation.org.
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author: Zilber Family Foundation


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April 16, 2020


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Post from Community: Tobacco Users Beware: Smoking increases COVID-19 risk | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network
April 16, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
We’ve all been hearing about good ways to slow the spread of COVID-19. Washing your hands, not touching your face, social and personal distancing when out in public, or just staying at home. These messages are extremely vital considering that the North Side of Milwaukee and in particular, African-American residents have been hit hardest so far by coronavirus, both by serious illnesses and by deaths.
There are reasons for this, such as less access to COVID-19 testing and health care in general. But, the main reason, according to health officials, that African-Americans are at high risk to suffer serious health problems if they catch the virus is because they are more likely to suffer from preexisting conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, illnesses that are strongly linked to smoking.
Twenty-eight percent of African American adults in Wisconsin smoke, while those who earn less than $20,000 annually smoke at even higher rates. Both groups use tobacco at nearly twice the rate of the state average.
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These statistics are more troubling when you consider the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among other leading health authorities, reported that smoking increases a person’s risk for COVID-19, and that they are more likely to suffer extreme illness if they contract the virus.
Smoking increases their risk because fingers, and possibly contaminated cigarettes, come into contact with lips,and because they are sometimes smoked communally. In addition, smokers experience higher rates of diabetes, lung and/or heart disease, which puts them at high risk for suffering serious COVID-19 related health complications.
The Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network has been working for years to share information about the dangers of tobacco use. Included in those efforts is our outreach and partnerships to public housing residents and also those who suffer from mental illness, two populations that are among our city’s most vulnerable to COVID-19. They also smoke at much higher rates than the general population. The messages we share with them about quitting smoking are now more urgent than ever and the benefits of quitting will extend far beyond this current pandemic.
If you’re a smoker who wants to quit, you can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free help and medications. Medicaid recipients who smoke can also call their doctor to talk about free help provided through the Medicaid cessation benefit.
To join or learn more about the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention & Poverty Network efforts in Milwaukee visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WiTPPN/.


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April 13, 2020


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What you need to know about the coronavirus stimulus checks and how to spend them | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
April 16, 2020
Milwaukee residents this week began receiving the COVID-19 stimulus payment, officially referred to by the Internal Revenue Service as the Economic Impact Payment.
This is welcome news for many, especially those who joined the swelling ranks of the unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are some things you should know and some spending advice as well:
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So how much will I get?
The payout for individual head of household filers is $1,200, while married couples who filed jointly get $2,400.
Each receives another $500 for each qualifying child.
When will I get my money?
Not everyone will receive their payment soon. Those who filed taxes in 2018 or 2019 and have direct deposit accounts on file with the IRS will see them first. If you filed taxes, but the IRS doesn’t have your direct deposit information on file, you can submit that information here.
Others will receive checks in the mail. For those who don’t file taxes, you could still be eligible. To apply as a non-filer of taxes click here.
Those who receive Social Security or disability don’t need to take any action to receive their payment, according to the IRS.
But if you have moved since you last filed taxes, update your address here.
Who won’t get a stimulus payment?
Some won’t get the stimulus payment at all, including those who are listed as dependents, those who owe child support or if you earn too much income to be eligible.
Undocumented workers without a Social Security number will also not receive checks. Those who owe back taxes will still get their checks.
Tips on how to best utilize your stimulus payment:
Warwees Holt, an ex-banker who is a financial coach for the Social Development Commission, said the first thing you should do when you get your payment is pay your rent or mortgage.
“I think it’s great that foreclosures and evictions have been stopped, but some people take that as I don’t have to pay,” Holt said. “Pay it if you can.”
If you can’t pay because you are unemployed or are short of food, she said, make sure to call your landlord and/or lender to discuss your situation. In fact, for any bill payments that you can’t make, Holt advises individuals to make calls and to write down who you talked to as well as the date and time of the calls.
Those calls are tracked, she said, and showing that you took the initiative to call is helpful in the long run.
“Everyone is in the same boat right now, so let them know what you can or cannot do,” Holt said.
Another piece of advice she offered was for individuals to put aside some money for an emergency.
“Putting aside a couple hundred just in case your car breaks down or you need a battery could mean the difference between being able to get to work for an essential worker,” she said. “Sometimes a minor or major expense that you weren’t expecting can set you back for months.”
Holt also cautions people who are waiting for their stimulus checks to beware of scammers looking to turn the pandemic into an opportunity to steal your money.
“The IRS will never call you, and anyone else that you pay bills with will have things like your Social Security number and birthday on file, so make them give you that information and never give it to them yourself,” she said.
Finally, she wants people who might take the opportunity to use the stimulus payment to splurge or buy items that aren’t essential to resist that temptation.
“We don’t need new clothes right now, so bank that money,” Holt said. “There is nothing wrong, though, with ordering takeout or having a meal delivered to do something special for your house or your family.”

author: Edgar Mendez