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Let’s increase the impact of “On The Table” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Frank Martinelli
September 18, 2017
Frank Martinelli, president of the Center for Public Skills Training, shares his thoughts on how the Greater Milwaukee Foundation initiative can better address our community’s most pressing problems.
You may have heard about an initiative sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF) called “On the Table.” The foundation is encouraging people to organize a gathering around mealtime on Oct. 17. The purpose, according to the GMF website, is to “bring people in the community together to contribute their ideas and energy toward advancing a more vibrant and connected region.”
The GMF initiative is modeled after a similar program sponsored by the Chicago Community Trust and other foundations. Input received through the Oct. 17 gatherings will be analyzed and, if it follows the Chicago model, grants to support action will follow.
Foundations around the country have been hosting these initiatives to promote “civic participation and engagement” in the last couple of years. Not a bad thing at all.
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While nobody can argue that bringing people together to talk about ways to make things better is not a good thing, the On The Table discussion questions that are posed avoid any reference to the region’s most pressing issues – racism, poverty, income and wealth inequality, environmental justice and others.
So what seems to be going on here?
A few months ago, professor Erica Kohl-Arenas, author of “The Self-Help Myth: Why Philanthropy Fails to Alleviate Poverty,” spoke in Milwaukee. Some of her research focuses on foundation initiatives that tend to avoid the difficult conversations that communities need to have about the systemic barriers and root causes of the problems we face.
According to a description of a video of Kohl-Arenas’ talk, “One of the case studies examines well-publicized foundation-led community engagement initiatives that promote “community dialogue,” “community conversations,” and “community collaborations” that fail to lead to actions that challenge and transform the underlying economic, social, criminal justice, and political systems that are the root causes of the many problems communities face.”
My concern about On The Table is that the “sample conversation prompts” offered on the GMF website seem to be pretty meek and mild at a time when our community really needs to have the more difficult conversations about racism, poverty, wealth and income inequality, the unjust criminal justice system, etc. — the kinds of conversations that we are so good at avoiding in Milwaukee.
It’s interesting that on the GMF website, it is stated, “Our fundamental discussion question is intentionally left open-ended to encourage On the Table participants to think creatively and reflect on possibilities, rather than fixate on well-known challenges.”
“Fixate” is an interesting word choice. What exactly is supposed to be “on the table” and “off the table”?
Our city is at a crossroads: In spite of the valiant efforts of many caring people and organizations over a long period of time, life has not improved for many Milwaukeeans. Our city continues to set records of the wrong kind: Often when a new study is released, Milwaukee is at or close to the bottom of the pack on key indicators.
How bad is it? Take the 2016 Distressed Communities Index: Milwaukee is seventh from the bottom in the ranking of most economically distressed large cities. We have some of the lowest reading and math proficiency scores in America. Milwaukee is the most segregated metro area in the United States, with a black poverty rate of 40 percent, which is the second highest among the 40 largest metro areas. And Milwaukee County has the highest incarceration rate for black men.
Listed below are On the Table sample conversation prompts from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation website:
1. Share something you love, or are most proud of, about where you live.
2. What can we do, as individuals, and together with organizations we are part of, to make our region more vibrant?
3. Each of us is a philanthropist – through our time, talent, and treasure. What can each of us do as community philanthropists to help build stronger, more connected communities?
4. How can we ensure that greater Milwaukee is a globally competitive, 21st century region? What are the strengths upon which we build?
5. If you could have all the resources and all the people needed to accomplish something to improve your community or our region, what would you undertake?
6. If your table includes young people, consider asking them about the issues they observe in their schools, neighborhoods and peer groups. How do they see themselves contributing to solutions that build a better future for their generation?
7. Let’s look at next steps. Residents from all walks of life across our region will be gathering today over mealtime conversations just like ours. How can we use these conversations to bring colleagues, friends, and neighbors together to lead change across greater Milwaukee? What should we do next?
In order to take full advantage of the On the Table dialogues that will occur on Oct. 17, let’s, first of all, encourage people to participate in On the Table and consider additional options for questions to get us closer to root causes and strategies that will lead to purposeful collective action.
Here are some examples of discussion questions that I would like to see considered on Oct.17:
Check out the video: Professor Erica Kohl-Arenas, speaking in Milwaukee on April 24, 2017, on “The Self-Help Myth: How Philanthropy Fails to Alleviate Poverty” (University of California Press, 2015).
Kohl-Arenas is one of a number of emerging scholars and researchers who are undertaking a critical analysis of philanthropy’s role in society. Through the lens of a provocative set of case studies, The Self-Help Myth reveals how organized philanthropy has the effect of maintaining systems of inequality by attracting attention to the “behaviors” of poor people while shifting the focus away from structural inequities and relationships of power that produce and maintain poverty.
Check out the video promoted with the help of The Marketing Heaven: Professor Erica Kohl-Arenas, speaking in Milwaukee on April 24, 2017, on “The Self-Help Myth: How Philanthropy Fails to Alleviate Poverty” (University of California Press, 2015.

author: Frank Martinelli


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 17, 2017

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: September 17, 2017

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

author: Adam Carr


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UnitedHealthcare fails city residents in need of addiction-related services, coalition charges | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
September 18, 2017
Rafael Mercado (in white) speaks during a news conference outside UnitedHealthcare’s corporate headquarters. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
A newly formed coalition comprising addiction therapists is sounding the alarm on insurance companies for actions it claims are illegal and harmful to patients.
The group, Advocaid, recently held a news conference outside the corporate offices of UnitedHealthcare, 10701 Research Drive.
Dr. Selahattin Kurter, executive director of the West Grove Clinic, a mental health and addiction clinic, accused the company of “playing fast and loose with the lives of Medicaid substance-dependent patients” when it abruptly announced in April that it would no longer provide reimbursements for the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) or Peer Support Services. These programs provide support — in the form of medical and therapy treatment — for addicts, some of whom may have previously been hospitalized.
The changes, set to go into effect May 1, were announced in a letter to care providers in which UnitedHealthcare declared the services “are no longer financially sustainable under our managed Medicaid plan.”
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After finding out about UnitedHealthcare’s decision in July, Advocaid requested a meeting with CEO Dustin Hinton to discuss the coalition’s “serious concerns regarding UHC Medicaid resources not being fairly provided to address Milwaukee County’s addiction treatment needs.”
Kathy Schoenauer, director of medical and clinical operations for UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid coverage plan, responded by email that the insurer had reversed its earlier decision.
Dr. Selahattin Kurter joined a news conference at UnitedHealthcare corporate headquarters. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
“On May 26, 2017, we sent a communication to care providers confirming no change to behavioral health coverage,” Schoenauer wrote. “We have been, and will continue to stay, in close contact with providers to ensure members’ health needs are supported.”
UnitedHealthcare’s Director of Communication Anthony Marusic declined to answer questions about why the decision was made, why it was reversed and when reimbursements resumed.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Spokesperson Elizabeth Goodsitt stated, in a Sept. 15 email to the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, “no Medicaid members lost their IOP or PHP coverage. There were no coverage, services, or benefits changes to Medicaid members who are covered by United Healthcare (sic).”
But Advocaid said it has heard from patients — starting in June, and as recently as August — who were denied coverage for addiction and mental health services by UnitedHealthcare. Advocaid declined to provide specifics because of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protections that prohibit sharing private patient information. Advocaid has created a website — which it said is encrypted and secure — asking people who have been denied coverage by UHC to submit their contact information so the group can get in touch.
“Patients … were harmed, and relapsed due to the lack of treatment,” Kurter said. “Some of these patients required resuscitation, hospitalization and extensive further treatment care, far beyond what the original intensive outpatient treatment would have required.”
“The name of the game is to minimize expenses. So, the more you can reduce services, the more profitable you can become,” Kurter said.
Robert Miranda, an Advocaid spokesperson, said UnitedHealthcare and other insurance companies that administer state Medicaid funds through BadgerCare are “redlining” Milwaukee by not contracting with clinics that provide comprehensive care to city residents. According to Miranda and Kurter, West Grove Clinic, 10012 W. Capitol Drive, and the United Community Center (UCC), 1111 S. 6th St., are the only clinics in the city that provide comprehensive outpatient services for those struggling with mental health and addiction.
UCC does not accept insurance from Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled through UnitedHealthcare because it doesn’t have a contract with the insurer. Under HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) contracts with the state, the insurer ultimately determines which providers get contracts and which don’t. According to Kurter, UHC insures 30 percent of total insurance enrollees in southeast Wisconsin.
In addition, Advocaid claims that UnitedHealthcare and others are violating the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which prohibits insurers from imposing stricter requirements for mental health and addiction treatment than they do for other medical services. According to Advocaid, these limitations include instituting more peer reviews on claims and requiring individuals to get pre-clearance from service providers for mental health services more often than for medical services.
Health Department Commissioner Bevan Baker, who is a member of the City-County Heroin, Opioid, and Cocaine Task Force, said UHC, and other insurance companies, make what he called “marketplace decisions” about the services they provide and what they need to do to stay viable.
However, he added, “I don’t think any of them would be licensed and be able to operate if there was redlining or any type of discriminatory practice that was underway.”
Marusic declined to respond to Advocaid’s allegations or emailed questions regarding the group’s claims.
Attorney Imran Kurter, Selahattin’s brother and pro bono legal counsel for Avocaid, said these tactics amount to a “red-tape runaround” and “go against the spirit” of parity law. The end result is that people are left without the care they need, according to Kurter.
“This is playing with people’s lives,” he said.
A 2016 survey conducted by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) found that people with insurance had more difficulty locating in-network providers and facilities for mental health care compared to general or specialty medical care. This was true of both inpatient and outpatient mental health care.
Deaths in Milwaukee County from opioid-related overdoses have skyrocketed since 2002, when there were 83, to 294 in 2016. There have been 204 opioid-related deaths so far in 2017, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner.
Rafael Mercado, a coalition member who leads weekly cleanups of West Greenfield Avenue between Layton Boulevard and 11th Street, said the group finds, on average, 20 heroin needles every Saturday. He added that when people who are addicted to opioids are denied treatment often their first recourse is heroin, which is much cheaper, and more dangerous. According to Dr. Kurter, heroin deaths in Milwaukee have doubled in the last five years.
“It’s mind-boggling how we’re allowing a whole community to be sacrificed,” said Miranda.
The coalition’s goal, according to Miranda, is to meet with UHC officials to encourage them to target their resources to the agencies and clinics in Milwaukee that can reduce overdose deaths.
After the press conference, Advocaid sent a second letter requesting a meeting with UnitedHealthcare officials.
“If UnitedHealthcare is serious, they will give me a time, and a date and a location,” Miranda said. “We will all sit down and we’re going to talk about how we can get this thing done, resolved in a way that’s going to make sure that the treatment that we’re seeking for this community is done, and done in the right way.”

created: September 18, 2017

author: Jabril Faraj


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A.W.E. is hiring Truck Studio teaching artists | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Raina Johnson
September 19, 2017
Artists Working in Education Truck Studio program is hiring!
Artist Working in Education’s Truck Studio program provides meaningful, drop-in art enrichment activities free of charge to children ages 4 – 14 in underserved neighborhoods.  We present programs on site to help participants become more inquisitive, creative, flexible, imaginative and confident while fostering a sense of community among children, artists, and Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Our a Truck Studio positions are a great PAID opportunity to use your creative talents to impact the lives of Milwaukee children while expanding your skills as a community artist! AWE Truck Studio hires community-minded teaching artists who have a background and interest in the VISUAL arts (drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, etc) and who love working with young people.  Our programs run in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.  You must be available to work between the hours of 3pm-9pm on weekdays and have open availability on Saturdays.   These are part-time positions ranging from about 2 to 10 hours a week.
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AWE is hiring for our fall Truck Studio library programs and special events:
We are hoping to build diverse teams of artists that are dedicated to community outreach & development and who enjoy working in an engaging way with community members from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Please apply immediately if you are interested!
Click for application or contact A.W.E. for more information:
414-933-3877 or by e-mail: reanna@awe-inc.org

created: September 19, 2017

author: Raina Johnson


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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September 19, 2017

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Fondy Farmers Market celebrates 100 years and new park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
September 19, 2017
Fondy Farmers Market, established in 1917 at a different location, celebrated its 100th anniversary with all of the features of any good birthday party. Music, dancing, pizza, art activities and cake were just some of the treats offered for participants’ enjoyment.
Saturday shoppers who come weekly to buy produce, locally made health and beauty products, prepared foods, herbs and flowers, were joined by neighbors and community leaders attending the official opening of Fondy Park.
The new park, built through a public-private partnership led by the city’s Environmental Collaboration Office, ECO HOME GR/OWN, is located on a city-owned vacant lot along the north side of the market. It contains many sustainability features that will help reduce local flooding and keep Lake Michigan cleaner by reducing water flowing into sewerage pipes in periods of heavy rain and snow.
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author: Andrea Waxman


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36475800944_c624801837_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 19, 2017


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Adam Carr
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Adam Carr
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MPS youth apprenticeship program serves 250 students this academic year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elizabeth Baker
September 19, 2017
LaResha Love works with integrated construction manager Shaun Hester at Mortenson Construction. (Photo courtesy of Terri Salzer)
LaResha Love says working for Mortenson Construction changed her life.
Beginning in January when she was a senior at Bradley Tech High School until she left for college at University of Wisconsin-Stout a few weeks ago, Love worked as a youth apprentice for Mortenson at the new Milwaukee Bucks arena construction site.
This academic year, 250 MPS students will have the opportunity to participate in the statewide youth apprenticeship program – up from 46 last year – made possible by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) funding.
As youth apprentices, high school juniors and seniors work at local companies based on their subject interests, earning income and experience. MPS works with the employers to match the students with mentors.
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It’s a win-win situation for both employers and students, explained Eric Radomski, career and technical education manager at MPS. Many high school students in Milwaukee need and want paid work, and the youth apprentices help employers “fill a pipeline,” Radomski said.
The program evaluates students’ attendance, grades, behavior and interests. When a student applies for an apprenticeship, the employer knows he or she is interested in working at the company and has had some instruction to prepare for the job.
LaResha Love worked for Mortenson Construction as part of Milwaukee Public Schools’ youth apprenticeship program. Love (center) poses with mentors Bridget Kraus, Vanessa Nsubuga, TJ Lewis and Carina Sowinski. (Photo courtesy of Terri Salzer)
The statewide youth apprenticeship program has been connecting students to employers since the 1990s. Because MPS’s program will experience exponential growth this year, school leaders must now find more employers to participate.
“They need to be aware of this pipeline of young talent,” said Terri Salzer, MPS’s youth apprenticeship coordinator. In many cases, employers assume young people lack the interest, related coursework and experience to work successfully in a professional environment, she noted.
Cathy Crary, DWD section chief for the youth apprenticeship program, called student workers “an untapped resource.”
“Milwaukee should be our shining star in the state, and we think we can get there,” she said.
When asked about specific challenges facing Milwaukee youth apprentices, Love, Radomski, Salzer and Crary all spoke about transportation.
Commonly, Milwaukee junior and senior high school students do not have driver’s licenses and rely on public transportation. Consequently, any work opportunity that is not near a county bus line is usually out of the question, and even locations in the city can take more than an hour to reach via bus.
Radomski said the youth apprenticeship program has had to turn down employment opportunities for students in other counties because of the transportation issue.
In fact, Mortenson initially offered Love a position in its Brookfield office, but since she has neither a car nor a driver’s license, she would have had to take the bus an hour each way every day. Fortunately for her, Mortenson accommodated her by assigning her to work at the downtown construction site.
School communities can push for local policy changes to ease the transportation burden, Crary said. Designated school buses could drive students to work sites, and more programs could assist teens in obtaining licenses.
MPS has recently started one such program, called MPS Drive, which offers free driver education for all students.
Many MPS students lack a clear understanding of the kinds of work and careers available to them, Radomski said.
“Probably our biggest mission is to expand their understanding and have businesses open their doors to show students what their company has to offer and why they should consider a career in that area.”
Love, who thought she would pursue computer engineering, began her youth apprenticeship at Mortenson working on virtual mockups, models and blueprints. She quickly found the work boring and difficult. Come summer, she started shadowing the superintendent who oversees all work around the Bucks construction site, and that really sparked her interest.
Now, she studies construction management at UW-Stout and hopes to become a project manager one day.
“Mortenson changed my life,” she said. “At first, I was there for myself and myself only. But my second week there, I realized that’s not the attitude you can have there.”
Love said her employers were all so welcoming and friendly, which pushed her to make the best of her experience by exploring different positions and making connections with leaders and mentors.
By the time she was finishing high school classes, she was grateful to be given the opportunity to stay at Mortenson for the summer. Love hopes to return to there during the summers she is in college.
Many MPS youth apprentices continue working with their employer while they advance their education, whether that’s at a technical college or a traditional four-year institution, Salzer said.
“I’m lost for words when it comes to talking about the youth apprenticeship because it’s the best experience you could ever have in life,” Love said.
“If I wouldn’t have had this opportunity to work for Mortenson, I wouldn’t have known my major. I don’t know what I would do with my life.”

author: Elizabeth Baker


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 19, 2017


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On the Block: Back to her roots | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elizabeth Baker
September 19, 2017
Ever since she was 5 years old attending kindergarten at Keefe Avenue School, Pamela Davis has wanted to be a teacher. Now, she’s back at Keefe teaching special education. After a long detour – working for the military and then corporate America – Davis is finally living her dream.


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How to become a tutor or mentor | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Martha Cannon, Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee
September 20, 2017
Sister Lourdes Pangelinan tutors a sixth-grader at Blessed Savior West Campus.
Help youth succeed in school and life! The start of the school year offers many opportunities to volunteer. Volunteer Milwaukee, a service of the Nonprofit Center, features a calendar full of events for volunteers, both one-time and ongoing.
Mentor a Local Youth – Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Metro Milwaukee
Be a Community-based or School-based mentor to a youth age 6 to 18 through one-to-one, professionally supported mentoring relationships; meet on a regular basis. Sign up today and be a positive role model to a child in your community.
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Contact Casey Evers at startsomething@bbsmilwaukee.org.
CommonBond Communities
Tutor students grades 1-12 at Glenbrook Apartments. Help youth with homework, develop study skills, and build positive relationships. Monday-Thursday, 3-5:30 p.m.; 1-2 hours/week.
Contact Sara Gilbert at sara.gilbert@commonbond.org or  414-375-1402
Heartlove Place
Tutor and provide homework help, as well as be a support to our young people, ages 12-17 in after-school program. Wednesdays 2:30-4 p.m. once every other week or more.
Contact Viola Rembert at vmr@heartloveplace.org or 414-372-1550
Sister Sylvia Hecht of the School Sisters Of Notre Dame Rising Stars tutoring program works with a third-grade student at Hi-Mount Community School.
Help Improve Literacy in Milwaukee County – Interfaith Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Milwaukee County
Tutor elementary students in reading at a Milwaukee Public School weekdays, 90 minutes once a week for a semester. Must be 55 or older.
Contact Eddy Magnus at rsvp@interfaithmilw.org or 414-291-7500
Milwaukee Christian Center
Help students ages 6-13 with homework and reading along with giving them a little confidence. Monday – Thursday 4-5 p.m.
Contact Bernadette Arellano at barellano@mccwi.org or 414-645-5350
Mentor Youth in 4-H Tech Wizards Clubs – Milwaukee County – University Of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Encourage youth to complete high school and pursue careers in technology, math, and science at Nativity Jesuit Middle School. Thursdays 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.
Contact Chunou Xiong at  Chunou.xiong@ces.uwex.edu or 414-256-4625.
Mentor and Tutor Teens – Neighborhood House of Milwaukee
Be a role model, help students ages 13-19 with homework 2:30-5 p.m., at gym/physical fitness activities 6-8 p.m. and/or create art 4-5 p.m. or 6-8 p.m.; 1-2 hours, weekly for the school year.
Contact Tasha Parker at tparker@nh-milw.org or 414-933-6161
Tutor Youth – Neu-Life Community Development
Help 2nd-5th grade youth in small groups or one on one with their homework (emphasis on Common Core Math) at after-school program at Gwen T. Jackson CLC site; weekday hours.
Contact Jody Rhodes at  jody@neu-life.org or 414-933-3924.
After-School Tutor – Northcott Neighborhood House
Tutor youth, play sports and create arts & crafts after school; 4:30-7 p.m. for youth ages 7-12 p.m. or 7-9 p.m. for youth ages 13-18; once a week for one semester.
Contact: Adriane Griffin at mailto:agriffin@northcotthouse.org or 414-372-3770
Youth Empowerment Project – Our Daily Bread Community Outreach Center
Serve as a positive role model and assist with educational activities such as customer service training, workshops, resume/cover letter writings, etc. to youth ages 14-25. Saturdays, 5 hours per month, September 23-December 23.
Contact Lea Kyle-Lewis at ourdailybreadmil@att.net or 414-755-0535
Academic Mentor – Our Next Generation
Help an elementary-aged child with homework and participate in a structured literacy program. Mondays-Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. or 5-6 p.m.; 3 to 5 hours per month for the school year.
Contact Sessie Agbley at sagbley@ongkids.org or 414-344-2111
Pathfinders
Mentor a middle school student with behavioral and learning challenges, and build life skills and confidence; one hour weekly during school hours for six months. Training provided.
Contact: Susan Raines at sraines@pathfindersmke.org or (414) 988-6870
Running Rebels Community Organization
Tutor youth ages 10-18 and engage them in group academic activities. Monday-Thursday 3:30-6:30 p.m. and/or Friday during the day.
Contact Natasha Coe at info@runningrebels.org or 414-264-8222
Tutor At-Risk Students K-8 in Milwaukee – School Sisters Of Notre Dame Rising Stars Program
Tutor a student during school day, after school and/or Saturday mornings. Minimum one hour a week during school year. Choose from one of 12 school sites.
Contact Sharon Stecker at sstecker@ssndcp.org or 262-787-1018
SEA Literacy
Help refugee children grades 1-12 with homework as they learn to be more fluent in English. Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. and/or Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon.
Contact: Dan Jackson (DJ) at volunteer@sealmke.org
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center
Tutor elementary school students in reading and math and/or tutor middle and high school students in all subjects after school 2:30-6:00 p.m.; commit to 2-3 hours weekly.
Contact Devin Hudson at dhudson@ssnc-milw.org or 414-463-7950
Homework Tutors – Tamarack Waldorf School
Assist our high school students with homework in math, language arts and science during after school study hall. 2 hours per week, 3:30-4:30 p.m. for one semester.
Contact Tasha Sorenson at tasha.sorenson@tamarackwaldorf.org or 414-277-0009
United Community Center
Tutor 1st through 4th grade students in the Bruce-Guadalupe Community School after-school program. Mondays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays, 3-4 p.m.; one hour once a week for 3 months.
Contact Joanna Rivas at jrivas@unitedcc.org or 414-384-3100
Unity in Motion
Tutor elementary and middle school youth with school studies and core academic skills Mondays 5:45-6:45 p.m. at All People’s Church.
Contact Dawn Steffen at dawn@unityinmotion.org or 414-232-5439
Teen Peer Counselor – Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center
Be a role model and assist with the physical and counseling needs of runaways and homeless youth ages 11-17 in crisis. Flexible hours; 3 hours per week for 3 months. Training provided; volunteer age is 14-18.
Contact Ivana Guerrero-Garcia at YPL@walkerspoint.org or 414-647-8200 ext. 2.

created: September 20, 2017


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Jesús Salas and Reggie Jackson named winners of the 2017 Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Robert J. Bauman
September 20, 2017
Jesús Salas (left) at the UMOS mural opening and Reggie Jackson (right) in Sherman Park.
The 2017 recipients of the Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award have been named as Jesús Salas and Reggie Jackson. Jesús Salas is a life-long migrant workers activist, educator, and a former member of the UW-Board of Regents. Reggie Jackson is a public speaker and writer concerning equal rights and Black history, as well as Chief Griot and leader at the America’s Black Holocaust Museum.
Mr. Salas and Mr. Jackson will each be presented with the Zeidler award during a special ceremony on Tuesday, September 26 at 8:30 a.m. in the third floor Council Chamber Anteroom (prior to the start of the regular meeting of the Common Council) at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.
“The Committee’s decision recognizes these two outstanding leaders, coming from different segments of our community, who share a common vision of advocating for those whose labor has contributed to our economy but who have been marginalized and even excluded, physically and socially. Their positive examples and inspiring messages need to be recognized, now and for future
generations,” said Arthur Heitzer, vice-chair of the Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award Selection Committee.
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Jesús Salas is a third generation migrant worker whose family had traveled from Texas to the Great Lakes region to harvest crops during the full decade of the 1950’s. Eventually his family settled in Wisconsin where Salas graduated from high school and attended UW-Oshkosh. In the 1960’s, he recruited children from the migrant worker camps to create the first day care center for migrant workers in the state. Over the years, he studied wages of migrant workers, held marches to improve living and working conditions, and carried out the first migrant worker strike in Wisconsin history.
Mr. Heitzer added: “Two prior recipients of the Frank Zeidler Public Service Award took the time to actively endorse his nomination, as well as the retired president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. We are honored to recognize Mr. Salas.”
After moving to Milwaukee, in 1969 Salas became the first Latino CEO of United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS). As a result of these efforts, it led to the now, Roberto Hernandez Center. He also returned to his roots in Texas to help shape the political climate and address the state’s long history of poor working conditions. Eventually he came back to Milwaukee and embarked on a long teaching career, and then a position on the UW-Board of Regents. Salas eventually resigned his position on the UW-Board of Regents to protest the state’s refusal to grant in-state-tuition for qualified UW- System children of undocumented workers.
Alderman Robert J. Bauman, chair of the Award Selection Committee said, “Over the years Mr. Salas has been one of the most important spokesmen for the Latino community and brings to light the plight of migrant workers and their children. His work is worthy of recognition for many reasons including his selfless desire to improve the lives of others,” Alderman Bauman said.
We are equally thrilled to recognize Reggie Jackson, an individual who identified a need in the community and turned it into a movement that promotes equal rights and education. In 1994, Mr. Jackson was an electrician driving down North Avenue when he noticed the America’s Black Holocaust Museum and decided to go inside; there he met an unsung civil rights hero who founded the museum to promote racial equality and education. Finding a need in the community for more awareness, he quickly began volunteering at the museum, became the Head Griot at ABHM and trained new volunteers before serving on the museum’s board and then as its chair in 2007. Since then, Mr. Jackson expanded the museum’s vision by creating a museum without walls with an online platform, publishing house, speakers, and public programing to create interracial dialogue and an educational experience.
Alderman Bauman says, “Mr. Jackson is the type of citizen everyone hopes for, he is actively engaged in making our community more open and equal to all of our residents. His leadership has reshaped our ideas, challenged old notions, and made us a more educated society,” he said.
Mr. Jackson regularly speaks at prestigious venues, universities, and companies as a diversity trainer. During the last several years Reggie drew overflow crowds to his four-part series called Do Black Lives Matter? The Historical Devaluation of Black Lives in American History. Mr. Jackson was also invited to sit on Zeidler Center for Public Discussion and the Wisconsin Humanities Council, as well as the Executive Committee of Rid Racism Milwaukee. His ideas are valued not only by local media outlets but also on national news outlets including CNN. As an accomplished writer, speaker, scholar, and activist he has transformed the way we look at race relations and African American history.
About Reggie Jackson, Mr. Heitzer said: “It is rare for us in Milwaukee to identify someone as a public intellectual, but Reggie Jackson already fits the bill, and we look forward to hearing much more from him in the future.”
June M. Perry, a member of the Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award Selection Committee, said Mr. Jackson “Gives countless hours of his time to our community and gives us new perspectives on
race issues we may face daily. He has an incredible ability to bring inequality and racism to light in a way that is honest and insightful for the betterment of our community.”
Both of these gentlemen have made significant contributions to Wisconsin and we are grateful for the ways they have bettered the lives of strangers, our community, and the ripples of their efforts have been felt nationwide. As a whole we can say that our community is lucky to have both men who have demonstrated a level of integrity, selflessness, and passion for the causes they hold dear. Again, we look forward to publically acknowledging their contributions in our ceremony on Tuesday, September 26 at 8:30 a.m. in the third floor Council Chamber Anteroom (prior to the start of the regular meeting of the Common Council) at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.

author: Ald. Robert J. Bauman


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 20, 2017


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Resident artist brings multicultural mural to Anna F. Doerfler School | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Leah Harris
September 20, 2017
Doerfler students work on a section of a mural for the school library. (Photo by Leah Harris)
Muneer Bahauddeen has a routine when it comes to art education.
“You package something and then you put it on the road,” said Bahauddeen, a community artist who has worked on projects throughout the Milwaukee Public Schools. Bahauddeen is now doing an Arts @ Large residency at Anna F. Doerfler School, where he is working on a six-piece mural with elementary and middle school students.
The mural, created with clay and ceramic tile, will be displayed in the library at Doerfler, 3014 W. Scott St. The final six-piece installation will represent the values of the school, using symbols from Mayan, Ghanaian and Hmong cultures. The first two pieces were unveiled a few weeks ago. Two more pieces are in the school’s art classroom, where students will continue to work on them, and the last two pieces are still in Bahauddeen’s studio.
MPS created Arts @ Large in 2001 with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. In 2005 Arts @ Large became a nonprofit with the goal of providing integrated arts learning experiences for MPS students through programs such as artist residencies.
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The mural project began over the summer, with students, family and local community members contributing. Bahaudeen said he’s still unsure how to divvy up the clay and supplies now that more students will be participating during the school year.
Artist Muneer Bahauddeen and Principal Jessica Quindel unveil a section of the mural. (Photo by Leah Harris)
Bahauddeen’s residency will be completed at the end of October. He has done at least one project a year for Arts @ Large for 13 years. “It has been a life saver for me,” he said. “They came in and filled the gap during budget cuts so artists and teachers are working.”
By November, Bahauddeen will add the final touches to the mural. “Everything goes back to my studio and I do the refining, making it fit tighter, putting on the glaze, gluing them to the panel, then dropping them back at the school.”
Bahauddeen said that he utilizes a diverse range of cultural symbols to reflect the students he works with. “We’re dealing with a school with a very rich cultural community,” Bahauddeen said. “I hope they [the students] can identify something in the other cultures’ symbols that they experience in their own lives.
Bahauddeen’s residency is only one part of Doerfler’s art education program. The school is working to integrate diverse art education into the curriculum.
“We need to expand what it means to show what you know. In the real world there isn’t one way,” said Doerfler principal Jessica Quindel. “The arts are critical in the times of budget cuts,” she added.
“The work we do is always connected to academics,” said Brianna Dorney, director of communications and development at Arts @ Large.
“We aim to deepen the learning experience,” Dorney said. “We were created to align with the school’s academic goals.” Once Doerfler connected with Bahauddeen, Arts @ Large provided the rest of the resources. It also provides field trips, research excursions and art and media supplies as needed.
After his stint at Doerfler, Bahauddeen will work on a project in Indonesia.
He wants to leave a lasting impact behind. “Line, color, shape and texture are what we’re emphasizing in the exercises because the students can continue to use them,” said Bahauddeen, adding, “I hope the students get the experience just working with art and learning basic art principles.”

author: Leah Harris


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36494193303_f08a61f682_k (1) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 20, 2017


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Committee accepts proposal to raze part of Gettelman Brewery | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elliot Hughes
September 21, 2017
The Gettelman family home was built in the mid-1800s and still stands where it was built. (Photo by Elliot Hughes)
A small cadre of residents and historians may have saved some of the last vestiges of the old Gettelman Brewery on Milwaukee’s west side, but not as much as it had hoped.
The city’s Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee on Tuesday recommended awarding permanent historic status to one of three 19–century buildings that once belonged to the Gettelman Brewery. It now rests on MillerCoors’ property.
Left out of the equation are two other adjacent structures. All three buildings were recently given temporary historic status by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The zoning committee took up the issue after the HPC’s ruling was appealed.
The committee’s decision, which will now go to the Common Council for final approval, opens the door for MillerCoors to move and preserve one of the buildings and demolish the other two.
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“I feel very disappointed,” said David Boucher, a west side resident who nominated the three buildings for historic designation in an effort to save all of them from demolition.
David Boucher, who owns Amaranth Bakery and Café, nominated the three Gettelman buildings for historic status in an effort to prevent them from being demolished (Photo by Elliot Hughes).
MillerCoors originally targeted the Gettelman structures for demolition in March. They sit in a parking area on the MillerCoors campus, directly across the street from the company’s visitor center. MillerCoors determined the buildings need to be demolished to create more space for employee parking and staging for semitrailer trucks.
The three buildings in question include a house, which was originally the home of the Gettelman family before it was used for offices; a small office addition; and a large malt house. The structures are above lagering cellars, one of which dates to 1854.
MillerCoors acquired the buildings in 1961 and absorbed the Gettelman business in 1970.
The buildings are considered historically significant as standing examples of one of Milwaukee’s oldest regional breweries. The Gettelman Brewery is also considered a cultural touchstone, locally, for its popular advertisements and the technological inventions of Frederick “Fritz” Gettelman.
MillerCoors on Tuesday offered the zoning board a “compromise” proposal. It asked for permanent historic status for the Gettelman family house and said it would move the building across the street, next to the visitor center and preserve it. It proposed razing the office addition and malt house.
The zoning board voted for MillerCoors’ proposal, approving it 4-1 with only Ald. Nik Kovac opposing.
MillerCoors is prepared to cover the expected $406,000 relocating cost. What exactly MillerCoors would use the house for was not clear Tuesday. Company representatives said there would be some kind of display honoring the Gettelman Brewery’s achievements.
Boucher and others have said Milwaukee too often discards its historic places, rather than preserving them. He said renovating the three buildings and perhaps turning them into a restaurant could revitalize the stretch of State Street between the MillerCoors campus and Wauwatosa.
Ald. Mike Murphy, who represents the area, said in an interview that Boucher’s idea doesn’t make sense. The area is zoned for industrial purposes and MillerCoors employs 1,400 people. It’s important not to tamper with that, he said.
“I want to make sure those jobs are staying in our city and having those properties zoned industrial is important,” Murphy said.
The Common Council is expected to consider the proposal at its next meeting on Sept. 26. If the council accepts the zoning committee’s recommendation, MillerCoors will still have to obtain a “certificate of appropriateness” from the Historic Preservation Commission in order to move the house.

created: September 21, 2017

author: Elliot Hughes


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Doors Open Milwaukee features Lindsay Heights, Layton Boulevard West sites | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lydia Slattery / Wisconsin Watch
September 22, 2017
If you’ve never been to the Tandem Restaurant, the first thing you’re likely to notice is the comfortable and homey atmosphere. Vintage plates are set on wooden tables. A long wooden bar extends almost the entire length of the restaurant, which features an impressive whiskey collection. An outdoor seating area provides open-air dining in good weather.
Tandem, in Lindsay Heights, is one of 170 sites participating in Doors Open Milwaukee this weekend.
This year’s two spotlight neighborhoods are Lindsay Heights and Layton Boulevard West, both in the central city. Doors Open, on Saturday, Sept. 23, and Sunday, Sept. 24, allows guests to visit sites at their leisure, in addition to guided tours.
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Ten Doors Open buildings are in Lindsay Heights, while 11 are in Layton Boulevard West. Below are a few highlights:
Tandem Restaurant,
Tandem Restaurant opened in Lindsay Heights 10 months ago. The restaurant specializes in southern-style food that includes burgers, fried chicken, hush puppies, vegetarian options and more, and offers a full-service bar. A vintage tandem bicycle sits above the 100-year-old bar.
Caitlin Cullen, the owner and head chef at Tandem, named the restaurant after a bar two of her uncles owned in Detroit.
“I tailored the menu based on what stakeholders in the community told me,” Cullen said
Cullen visits Fondy’s Farmers Market every Saturday for fresh ingredients. “I love the neighborhood,” Cullen said. “It’s a really tight-knit community.”
The newly renovated building where Tandem operates was once home to the historic Wally Schmidt Tavern. Guests can tour the restaurant on their own on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or take a guided tour for $10 from 11:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. On Saturday, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Northside YMCA
The Northside YMCA is located on bustling West North Avenue in Lindsay Heights.
“We are Milwaukee’s best-kept secret,” said Rayven Petersen, operations director at the Northside YMCA. “We want people to know about us and be able to access our resources.”
The Y will be open both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. offering free activities and classes including Zumba. All facilities are open to guests, including the 5-foot-deep pool and the workout equipment.
Youth basketball classes are available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. both days. Open swim is available to all guests from 2 to 5 p.m.
Petersen said the Y is family-friendly, and a safe place for parents to bring their children.
Escuela Verde is a public charter school that specializes in project-based learning. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Escuela Verde,
Escuela Verde is a public charter school located in the Layton Boulevard West neighborhood. It is a project-based school, meaning that students work on a specific task for an extended period of time to gain skills and knowledge.
The school, which will be open on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., features a recording booth and a Zen room for activities such as yoga. Escuela Verde also will host a community market on Sunday, featuring local vendors selling different products. There will be a clothing swap at the market as well.
“We want community members to use the building for events and gatherings,” said Zaynab Baalbaki, an advisor at Escuela Verde.
Students provided input on the design of the school, which opened three years ago. Guests are encouraged to look at student projects, including a mural and garden, Baalbaki said. Baalbaki explained the school has an open layout, and there are no traditional classrooms.
Urban Ecology Center, Menomonee Valley, 3700 W. Pierce St.
The Menomonee Valley branch of the Urban Ecology Center opened in September 2012. Since then, the center has gotten community members involved in green and sustainable activities.
The UEC’s Menomonee branch will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Attendees are encouraged to walk through the green community center and at 1 p.m. guests can feed the center’s animals, which include snakes, turtles and fish.
“We do not have officially guided tours, but we do have self-guided tours on Saturday,” said Jaime Cana, visitor services specialist at the center’s Menomonee Valley location. Guidebooks are available in both English and Spanish.
Guests also can walk over to Three Bridges Park, which has has two miles of walking and biking trails, river access and 42 community gardens.

created: September 22, 2017

author: Lydia Slattery / Wisconsin Watch


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 21, 2017


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Community members demand police accountability in wake of DOJ report leak | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jabril Faraj
September 25, 2017
MPD Chief Ed Flynn (right) speaks during the Steering & Rules Committee hearing. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
When Milagro Jones, 27, was assaulted in front of his then-2-year-old daughter in November 2015 while waiting for a bus downtown, he was wearing a suit and tie. Jones was working at City Hall as a Public Ally doing homeless outreach. But Jones, who has experienced chronic homelessness, also had a felony conviction at 19 and had been “in and out of prison” since coming to Milwaukee in 2005.
He even videotaped the encounter but, when Milwaukee Police Department officers arrived on the scene, they told Jones “to pretend that me and my daughter weren’t assaulted and I’m just going to go on my way.”
When he refused, the officers gave him a ticket for disorderly conduct. Jones, who was sleeping in Red Arrow Park at the time, had to miss work to attend multiple municipal court hearings. On the day of his trial, the officers didn’t show, according to Jones, and the case was dismissed.
“If I had to write down the number of times that this police department has … did me and my family wrong, I would fill up books,” he said.
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Negative community interactions with police officers, particularly the 2014 killing of Dontre Hamilton in a downtown park, were part of the reason Milwaukee Police Department Chief Ed Flynn requested a collaborative reform process with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) at the end of 2015. When it began, residents called for a formal DOJ investigation into MPD’s patterns and practices.
Milwaukee NAACP President Fred Royal looks on during the Steering & Rules Committee hearing. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
At its most recent meeting, on Sept. 21, the Fire and Police Commission (FPC) decided to move forward with the process, despite changes to the Collaborative Reform Initiative announced by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions Sept. 15.
The DOJ process was not completed and a final report will not be released because of the changes. A DOJ official said neither a recently leaked draft report “nor any other draft” was finalized and, therefore, “any reliance on that draft would be unwarranted.”
However, State Sen. Lena Taylor said the report outlines some of the same concerns people in the community have been raising for years.
“This isn’t new. This has been going on long before us,” she said. “If we want different, we’ve got to do different. And, the truth of the matter is, we’ll never build trust if we don’t begin at the place of transparency and accountability.”
The FPC did not respond to questions about how the process would be structured or when it would be completed.
Bianca Shaw, a representative of the Zielder Center for Public Discussion, which has held police-resident dialogues across the city for the last two years, said citizens must be involved from the beginning.
The draft report, which includes more than 50 recommendations, said MPD lacks racial and gender diversity and that officers generally do not understand community policing — which the department claims it has practiced for years. It also stated that MPD’s body camera policies are inconsistent, its traffic enforcement strategy disproportionately affects African-Americans and it does a poor job of documenting and processing citizen complaints.
In his opening address at a Sept. 14 Common Council Steering & Rules committee hearing to discuss the report, Flynn derided the draft as “inaccurate and defective,” adding that it is “riddled with objective, factual errors of omission and commission.” Flynn criticized the DOJ’s use of consultants to create the report and said that MPD was not allowed to “correct the record” regarding parts he said were inaccurate, but declined to provide specifics. He said it was “stacked … with anonymous personal anecdotes, unsupported by any data.”
However, MPD said it agreed with most of the recommendations, except for three or four, “because we already did that” according to Leslie Silletti, director of MPD’s Office of Management, Analysis, and Planning. MPD did not respond to questions from aldermen on what the three or four recommendations were.
Individuals representing community-based organizations working in challenged central city neighborhoods filled the third-floor room at City Hall for the Common Council meeting. They called for investment in community-driven initiatives focused on preventing violence that are already underway.
Community members and police officers pack the third floor of City Hall. (Photo by Jabril Faraj)
More than half a dozen community members who spoke at the hearing called for accountability for what they described as “murders” and other abusive behavior by police, often toward black and brown individuals.
Milwaukee police have been involved in a number of high-profile killings of unarmed black men, most recently that of Hamilton, who was shot 14 times in Red Arrow Park. Flynn fired the officer involved for failing to follow procedure in his interaction with Hamilton.
Between 2008 and 2012, more than 50 people sued the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Police Department alleging improper strip and cavity searches in District 5, which is almost exclusively African-American. One officer served a 26-month prison sentence; at least five other officers were forced to resign, but did not serve jail time. One officer involved in the scandal was up for promotion at a recent Fire and Police Commission meeting.
Community activists called for implementing policies to formalize discipline and ensure accountability for officers. They said police officers have too much discretion, which is often more advantageous to them than to citizens. They also demanded that officers who have a track record of bad behavior lose their jobs.
“Leaders have to be followers — you can’t enforce law if you can’t follow it,” said Vaun Mayes, a Sherman Park resident and founder of Program the Parks. “You can’t tell somebody to do something that you wouldn’t do.”
“We can no longer sit down and say, ‘We’re doing everything that can be done, we’re doing the right things already,’” said Darryl Morin, former national vice president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and a member of the Community Coalition for Quality Policing (CC4QP). “We have to be honest, address the issue and be willing to work together.”
Morin said CC4QP also plans to move forward with an independent review of particular MPD policies, many of which are addressed in the draft report. Flynn said he “would welcome the report,” according to Morin, who added the coalition is in the process of securing funding to conduct the review.
Flynn, whose testimony evoked jeers at the hearing, declined to speak as he left City Hall surrounded by officers, but struck a more conciliatory tone a week later at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a mural on 47th and Center streets.
“We’re in this together — there is no cavalry coming. There is the police and the community and the challenges we mutually face. And, sometimes there’s going to be strains and stresses in that relationship,” said Flynn. “We all want safe neighborhoods where children can thrive and people can chase the American Dream. The only question is: how are we going to get there together?”
Alan Schultz, a member of Ex-Prisoners Organizing (EXPO), said Flynn, who has often lamented that MPD operates as the “social service agency of default” for Milwaukee’s central city, should call on the Common Council to fund non-police programs to “lessen repetitive cycles of endlessly increasing public safety expenditures.”
Schultz said, “He should be taking that initiative, as a leader.”

created: September 25, 2017


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 24, 2017

created: September 24, 2017


text:
When good citizens step up in Milwaukee, good things happen | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Cavalier Johnson
September 25, 2017
Since I’ve been in office, it isn’t uncommon for me to mention to my constituents that we are a team. That in order for me to successfully do my job, I need them to step up and call, email, attend our meetings, engage their neighbors, and reach out to me so that together we can make our district, our neighborhoods and our community a better place. When the good people shrink away and stop being involved it creates a vacuum that will be filled by bad actors. I believed in that before I got into office and I still believe in it now. Fortunately, I believe that the good people still far outnumber the bad in this community.
In the early morning hours of September 19th my wife’s car was stolen. We did our part – we went to our local police district and made the report and although it seemed hopeless, we kept our eyes open for vehicles on the street as we traveled the community. But the tip that ultimately resulted in the return of the vehicle came from residents who noticed something amiss about a vehicle that they had never seen parked in their neighborhood being driven by people who they had never seen in their neighborhood who were doing suspicious things that are uncharacteristic for their neighborhood. These Milwaukeeans saw something and they said something and my entire family is grateful. We are also so very grateful for the swift, diligent work done by the men and women serving in the Milwaukee Police Department in recovering the vehicle.
I encourage everyone in our city to do the same thing. If something abnormal is observed in your neighborhood, don’t leave it to someone else. If you see something, say something. Stay involved in your neighborhood. Start a block club. Get to know your neighbors. That sort of organizing is the only way that we can root out the problems on our streets.
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One of my partners in this work has a note that ends every email. It says, “If we don’t claim our neighborhoods, then someone else will.” This is true. I believe that neighborhoods belong to the good people in our community – not those who work to tear them down. Let’s all do our part to claim our neighborhoods.
To report suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-933- 4444.

author: Ald. Cavalier Johnson


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ExYo MKE celebrates new studio with music, art and refreshments | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Leah Harris
September 26, 2017
Express Yourself MKE hosted a thank you party and open house Friday to celebrate its new studio at 1300 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. Youth participants, donors and volunteers gathered in the Running Rebels building for the “studio warming.”
Student participants entertained guests with songs and musical performances throughout the evening. ExYo uses artistic expression to provide youths an alternative to violence and street life.
The nonprofit arts organization moved to the new studio at the end of June.
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created: September 26, 2017


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 25, 2017


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Sherman Phoenix project attracting tenants, investors | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
September 26, 2017
Developers of the Sherman Phoenix project plan to purchase and redevelop the fire-damaged BMO Harris Bank building, 3536 W. Fond Du Lac Ave. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
In a 5-0 vote, the Common Council’s Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee passed a resolution last week to create a tax incremental financing (TIF) district to support the Sherman Phoenix project, which would transform the BMO Harris Bank building in Sherman Park into a hub of minority entrepreneurship. The building, at 3536 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., was damaged during the unrest following the police shooting of Sylville K. Smith in August 2016.
So far 12 black-owned businesses have been confirmed as tenants, according to Sabir. The TIF district would raise $225,000 to support the $2.5 million project, which includes purchasing the building. About half the funds needed for the project have been secured, said JoAnne Sabir, co-owner of the Juice Kitchen, 1617 W. North Ave., and co-developer of the project.
Sabir is co-developing Sherman Phoenix with Juli Kaufmann, president of Fix Development.
Among the investors is John W. Miller, founder and principal at Arenberg Holdings, a venture capital fund that supports start-up companies. According to Miller, projects such as Sherman Phoenix “are where the rubber meets the road.”
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“It will provide entrepreneurs the vehicle to create jobs, and more importantly instill hope in a neighborhood desperate for positive change,” Miller said.
He said the challenge in investing in this type of project is to create a coalition broad enough to include neighborhood stakeholders as well as others interested in seeing Milwaukee as a whole prosper. The reward, he added, would be helping to create a sustainable business model that will reap benefits deep within the community.
Another source of funding for the project is a crowdsourcing campaign, which has raised nearly $13,000 through 52 contributions. According to the Indiegogo page, 13 percent of the $100,000 goal had been raised as of Sept. 25. The developers are also set to begin a community investment plan, which will allow local residents to make low-risk investments in the development and eventually collect annual dividends, Sabir said.
“We want people who live, work and serve in the neighborhood to have a chance to become owners of the building as well,” added Sabir.
Joanna Brooks, owner of Embody Yoga, 2242 N. 17th St., plans to relocate her business to the Sherman Park neighborhood as part of a new development project there. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Sabir was inspired by Ald. Khalif Rainey’s words when he wrote, “Be the phoenix that rises from the ashes,” in the aftermath of the Sherman Park unrest. Rainey sponsored the resolution to create the TIF district for the Sherman Phoenix project. Sabir and her husband Manaan, opened the Juice Kitchen in the Innovations and Wellness Commons in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood in October 2015.
“I was motivated to do something, but I knew that just bringing a Juice Kitchen to Sherman Park wouldn’t be enough,” Sabir said.
Among the first tenants lined up to occupy the Sherman Phoenix building was Joanna Brooks, owner of Embody Yoga, 2242 N. 17th St. Brooks currently runs her yoga studio out of the Walnut Way community center, but has committed to moving the studio to a development she hopes will empower the surrounding community.
“I think it will become this cultural hub for people of color and a place where we can come together and sell products and services that benefit the neighborhood,” Brooks said.
The project will eventually provide more than $3 million in direct impact, according to Kaufmann, while also creating 45 jobs and supporting 14 businesses.
“I hope [Sherman Phoenix] is a beacon of hope and a model for change in places too long stuck in the model of Milwaukee’s past,” Kaufmann said.
She stated that traditional financial and real estate systems construct barriers that prevent certain areas from thriving. The model Kaufmann and Sabir are utilizing is a neighbor-led and community responsive development approach that aims to build neighborhood wealth, said Kaufmann, also the co-developer of Tandem restaurant, in the former Historic Walter Schmidt Tavern in Lindsay Heights.
The building design is well under way with construction tentatively set to begin in November with the building projected to open next summer, Sabir said. She added that she is hoping not just for additional philanthropic support, but for people in the community to lend their time and talents to the project.
“We need people to invest in this space and help it become a vibrant hub where all Milwaukeeans feel comfortable and where people and businesses can flourish.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 26, 2017


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We Energies employment opportunity: Call Center Center Rep | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Frederick Nelson
September 26, 2017
As a Customer Care Center Rep, you will be responsible and empowered to take on questions and concerns from our customers. The Milwaukee Customer Care Center operates Monday-Friday (7am-9pm) and Saturday (8am-7pm) to ensure customers have energy related solutions. Various shifts are available but your schedule must be flexible to accommodate all shifts.
•Learn about educational opportunities available to improve your skills;
•Where you can go online to learn more about jobs at We Energies
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•How to apply online.
•Apply on the Spot
WHEN: Thursday, October 5, 2017
TIME: 11:00am
LOCATION:
Job Center Central
4201 N 27th St (27th & Hope)
6TH FLOOR
Milwaukee, WI 53216
QUESTIONS
Please contact Frederick Nelson
Email: Frederick.Nelson@dwd.wisconsin.gov or call 414-874-1655
To view current job openings and to apply: http://we-energies.com/home/careerop.htm

author: Frederick Nelson


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Catering company wins Near West Side business competition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Elliot Hughes
September 27, 2017
Lisa McKay, center, is presented with a $10,000 check that will help her move her business into a storefront on the Near West Side. Also pictured is Doug Gordon, CEO of WaterStone Bank, left, and Keith Stanley, executive director of Near West Side Partners. (Photo by Elliot Hughes)
Lisa McKay and her husband have spent months scoping a vacant building on the Near West Side as a potential headquarters for their catering business, but they haven’t made a move because the money hasn’t been there.
It’s made McKay antsy. She doesn’t want to lose the building to someone else.
But last Wednesday, she may have gotten the resources she needs to make that building home for the business she started from scratch about 10 years ago.
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McKay took home $11,000 and other resources by winning the second annual  event, a small business competition hosted by , Inc. to bring new businesses and jobs to the neighborhood.
“All week I had been so crazy and tired and I had a lot of catering jobs and I had so much on my plate,” McKay said after the announcement in front of about 300 people at  ballroom. “I hadn’t been to church in a while but Sunday, I just had to just go to church. I was so tired from just preparing (for the competition). I still went to bed last night still not feeling prepared. This morning I got up and i just felt so much confidence. Everything just fell in place.”
Keith Stanley, executive director of Near West Side Partners, announces the winners of the second annual Rev-Up MKE small business competition. (Photo by Elliot Hughes).
McKay, who owns , beat out 30 applicants and five other finalists in the competition. The six finalists all presented 10-minute pitches to the judges and an audience of about 300 people last Wednesday before announcing the winner.
McKay worked for multiple corporations as an executive assistant until she entered the catering business. It started with small events for friends and family in 2007. The following year, she pulled off her first wedding.
Since then she has gotten a culinary degree from  and won a “chef of the year” award from the , according to the business website.
McKay said her business catered 92 events in 2015, 220 in 2016 and is projected to cover 242 events in 2017. She said she employs four chefs — one full time. Her company is also involved with a summer culinary camp for kids and volunteering in schools to advocate healthy eating.
She said the panel of five judges probably selected her because she has already established a growing business and a positive reputation in the city.
“I have a solid company,” she said. “I have been doing this for over eight years. I’m stable, I’m a woman of my word.”
As the first-place winner, McKay won $10,000 in funding from WaterStone Bank; more than $25,000 in in-kind services, such as business consulting and communication support; one year of computer power, storage space and internet bandwidth; and advertising from the Near West Side Partners. McKay also won $1,000 for the audience favorite award.
Coming in second place, with a $4,000 prize, was Annalies Tilley-Grantz and her . Tilley-Grantz provides after-school piano lessons for elementary and middle school students at . In her pitch, she said she hopes to expand the program to more schools in Milwaukee and open up a headquarters to offer lessons to students in high school.
The four other finalists were:
All six finalists were paired with a mentor organization — either , ,  or  — which offered resources and support for the competition.
“In the economy we’re in, we have to focus on entrepreneurs,” said Keith Stanley, executive director of Near West Side Partners. “This is exciting for me to work with these local business owners that hopefully will be that engine, that life blood for us to move forward in economic development in the Near West Side.”

created: September 27, 2017


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LISC wins $2.5 million from CDFI Fund to drive businesses, jobs, food in distressed areas | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LISC Milwaukee
September 27, 2017
The Asian International Market is a locally owned small business that provides healthy food options to residents on Milwaukee’s south side. (Photo courtesy of LISC Milwaukee)
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has been awarded $2.5 million in federal funding to fuel economic opportunity in low-income areas and expand access to fresh food in entrenched food deserts.
LISC will seed a new small business development fund and spur healthy food-related enterprises with this week’s award from the federal Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). The funding will help support entrepreneurs, create jobs, expand local incomes and reduce blight in low-income areas across the country.
“Our goal is to expand the economic landscape for low-income people and places so they can raise their standards of living,” Elise Balboni, LISC senior vice president for lending.explained. “That means improving access to local goods and services, growing local incomes and improving local property values. The fund is part of our broader efforts to make communities safer, stronger and healthier,” she said.
The new CDFI funding will support development of grocery stores, farmers markets, community kitchens and food production facilities in struggling areas. LISC has used prior CDFI Fund awards to finance supermarkets in Detroit, Kalamazoo, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York and Brockton, Mass., along with a farmers market in Flint, Mich., and a food coop in Minneapolis.
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The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund)—part of the U.S. Department of Treasury—announced the LISC grants as part of $208 million in awards to 303 organizations.  In addition to $1 million for the small business loan fund, LISC’s CDFI award includes $1.5 million to fuel healthy food initiatives. LISC will leverage the federal funds to raise and invest $15 million in food-related enterprises that advance health goals in low-income areas.
For more on the CDFI Fund grants, visit: www.cdfifund.gov.

author: LISC Milwaukee


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 27, 2017


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On the Block: Working out at the Y | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Leah Harris
September 27, 2017
Brazilia Hughes experiences major arthritis pain in her joints. She tries her best to attend the water aerobics classes at the Northside YMCA at 1350 W. North Ave. to help ease the pains.


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Sherman Park’s newest mural offers images of hope | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lydia Slattery / Wisconsin Watch
September 27, 2017
Hundreds of people gathered at 4715 W. Center St., on Sept. 22 to celebrate the neighborhood’s newest mural, “Sherman Park Rising.” Artist Tia Richardson created the mural with the help of more than 250 people.
Mayor Tom Barrett praised the mural for bringing community members together, while calling for better police and community relations. Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn told the gathering that the mural represents hope.
“We all came together to make this vision happen,” Richardson said.
The mural’s images tell the stories of Sherman Park, Richardson explained. The vines connecting people represent the social support systems of the community. The babies represent the youth who are critical to the neighborhood.
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The event featured a ribbon cutting that included Richardson, Barrett and Flynn, as well as refreshments from Jay’s Uptown Cafe.


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36626727864_92f48ae329_b | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 26, 2017


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36629809154_b64d4964d7_h | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 26, 2017


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Flu shots offered at St. Ann Center | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care
September 28, 2017
When it comes to the flu, prevention is the best medicine. St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care is offering flu shots to the public in the center’s two medical clinics beginning on Oct. 2.
Flu vaccines are available at the Bucyrus Campus, 2450 W. North Ave., Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and at the Stein Campus, 2801 E. Morgan Ave., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. At both clinics, the cost is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and Humana insurance; for those without insurance, a flu shot costs $25.
Flu season typically runs from October through May. Viruses are spread mainly by coughing, sneezing and close contact. Symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, headache and runny nose.
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While anyone can get the flu, it’s more dangerous for infants and young children, people age 65 and over, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system.
To make an appointment for your vaccination or for more information, contact Stephanie Ghojallu, at the Bucyrus Campus, at (414) 210-2430; orKathy Schumacher, at the Stein Campus,  (414) 977-5022.
Serving the entire community, St. Ann Center’s community medical clinics treat a wide variety of illnesses and injuries and offer preventative health exams. To read more about the clinic, visit stanncenter.org/clinic.

created: September 28, 2017


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Walnut Way’s annual Harvest Day street festival celebrates 17th “Golden Birthday” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mitchell Mittelstedt
September 28, 2017
Walnut Way Conservation Corp.’s annual Harvest Day celebrated its 17th year on 17th Street last weekend.
The festival, which took place on the 2200 block of 17th Street and the SDC parking lot on North Avenue, featured food vendors and a range of acts, such as DJ Steve Watkins and local rappers Munch Lauren and C-Mills, acrobatic performances by the Milwaukee Flyers tumbling team, and Nefertari African Dance Company.
“Walnut Way is giving people knowledge, intellect and education on healthy eating. It’s a public garden, and it’s all organic food,” said Valerie Kolen, a local resident. “Walnut Way helps people figure out how to get in touch with the community, and get help with things that they need, not just food,” she added.
Harvest Day is the largest Lindsay Heights neighborhood festival, welcoming an average of 400 visitors, including residents, elected officials, community stakeholders and partners from across Milwaukee, according to Walnut Way.
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In addition to live entertainment and food vendors, various organizations set up tents to reach out to Milwaukeeans.
Rick Banks, a coordinator at Riverworks Development Corp. who was at the event representing MKE United, said the organization is working to create a shared vision and action agenda for downtown Milwaukee and the surrounding neighborhoods. “We’re bringing people together and we’re having community conversations and encouraging people to give their feedback and input on what they’d like to see in the Greater Milwaukee downtown area,” Banks said.
Progressive Insurance, the Medical College of Wisconsin and Rid Racism Milwaukee also had representatives at the street festival.
‘I am involved in a media project called the Digital Quilt,” said Rid Racism liaison Ahmad Muhammed. “To the run up for the 2018 mid-term election, we are doing a video project asking two salient questions: ‘Why do you vote?’ and, ‘What do you consider at stake for you your family, nuclear and extended, and neighborhood locally and nationally?’”
“This is our first year having a table here,” added Sue Shearingen, also with Rid Racism. “It’s a great event, and we’ve had a lot of interesting conversations. People have shown a lot of interest, so we’re glad that we’re here.”

author: Mitchell Mittelstedt


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Nonprofit provides inmates kitchen skills, opportunity to give back | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
September 29, 2017
(From left) Kathy Wolfe and Iyanna Porter, inmates at Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center, prepare vegetables with Tikkun Ha-Ir volunteer Jill Goldmann Weinshel. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
The Solomon Community Temple kitchen was buzzing with activity and fragrant with the aroma of eggplant sizzling in a skillet. A woman in a green prison uniform stood at the commercial range browning vegetables. Another woman, similarly attired, scraped pureed sweet potatoes from a blender into a mixing bowl. Several volunteers chatted as they chopped cabbage and other inmates peeled carrots and cut peppers in an adjoining room.
The women — volunteers and inmates — are participants in a food justice initiative of the Jewish community nonprofit Tikkun Ha-Ir (THI). The inmates, incarcerated at the minimum security Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center (MWCC), 615 N. Keefe Ave., are permitted to perform community service, and in some cases work at paid jobs, with varying degrees of supervision.  MWCC transports them to and from work sites.
Called the “Chop Shop,” the program takes place at Solomon Community Temple, United Methodist Church a few blocks from the MWCC. There participants clean and package surplus produce collected from farmers markets into user-friendly portions, which volunteers distribute to meal programs, shelters and food pantries throughout the metropolitan area. The project eliminates waste, makes nutritious food available to people in need and gives inmates kitchen skills training and an opportunity to contribute to society.
Iyanna Porter, 40, participates in the Chop Shop, she said, to give back to the community. Porter said she likes to cook and is learning to use new ingredients. “The camaraderie … and the support that you get from the people here is really nice,” she said.
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Inmate Alysha Gagermeier, 24, came to the Chop Shop for the first time on a recent Monday. “It’s nice to get a breath of fresh air and come out in the community and help people,” she said. “I want to show people there’s more to me than my drug addiction.”
MWCC inmate Jayne Buckley chops peppers that will be packaged raw or put into prepared dishes. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
The Chop Shop evolved out of THI’s Surplus Harvest program, which was sparked by board member Reenie Kavalar’s search for recipients for her own garden’s surplus.
Both programs run annually from July into October. This season, THI volunteers are collecting unsold produce four days a week from five farmers markets including Fondy Farmers Market, the largest donor. They deliver the vegetables to 11 organizations, including the Jewish Community Pantry, 2900 W. Center St., and the Chop Shop.
The farmers at Fondy, the majority of whom are Hmong, “have really big hearts and are extremely hard working and … have little wealth,” said Jim Hagen, a THI volunteer who has picked up unsold produce there for five summers. “It’s part of their culture” to donate food to people in need. “It (seems) like a spiritual thing for them,” Hagen added.
As of mid-September, THI estimates it had collected 10,000 pounds of produce this season and the Chop Shop had processed 4,200 pounds into 26,188 servings of healthy food.
Initially, the Chop Shop simply brought volunteers together to clean, chop and bag fruits and vegetables so that organizations offering shelter, meals or groceries could use the produce more easily.
But last year Karen Royster, THI’s project and development manager, arranged to add the “Cell to Chef” project. This expanded the program to include women from MWCC and added an option for inmates to take classes at Milwaukee Area Technical College and earn a Certificate of Culinary Competence. Equal to the first semester of MATC’s culinary program, this certification qualifies recipients for entry-level restaurant jobs, Royster said. Eight of the 10 women who entered the certificate program graduated, she said.
A leadership change at MWCC caused the MATC certificate option to be delayed this year. It is also unclear whether the state funding for MATC obtained last year will be available again, Royster said. But she hopes the new center superintendent, who is expected to assume the position next week, will continue this opportunity for inmates.
“Working at the Chop Shop humbles me,” said inmate Jayne Buckley, 37. “It makes me realize I can do more. I can give back. It gives me a good feeling …. making a right of the wrong.”
Buckley and inmate Kathy Wolfe, 59, both said they would like to continue to volunteer when they return to their homes in Green Bay and Wausaukee, respectively.
“I love doing this,” said Wolfe, who had never cooked before working with the Chop Shop. “I would like to do this in my own town but I don’t know if I can because it’s a small town,” she said.
Tikkun Ha-Ir, which is Hebrew for “repair the city,” encourages Jewish community members to build a more just Milwaukee through study, action and civic engagement, according to Sami Stein Avner, executive director. In addition to its food justice programs, THI sponsors a book club and speaker series about the pressing needs of city residents. It also collects supplies for homeless shelters and provides holiday meals and gifts.
Volunteers and inmates all gain from these programs, participants said. For Kavalar, whose parents survived the Holocaust, preventing waste and assuring that people have nutritious food are important. In addition, she has met “really nice people, women of all ages, who are willing to learn and help.”
Weinshel added that “better health through food has always been my thing,” noting that the work has helped her see the complexity of people and social problems.
“It takes time and patience and effort to fix a lot of the problems,” she said. Paraphrasing from the Jewish text “Ethics of the Fathers,” Weinshel added, “Though we will never finish the work; neither are we permitted to stop trying.”

created: September 29, 2017


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 28, 2017


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Grand opening of Milwaukee Public Library’s Mitchell Street Branch | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. José G. Pérez
October 2, 2017
Alderman José G. Pérez encourages residents to attend the grand opening of the Milwaukee Public Library’s Mitchell Street Branch at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 7. The new library is located on 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.
There will be a ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony. The grand opening will feature crafts, tours, live entertainment, and the chance to win great prizes. Mayor Tom Barrett, Library Director Paula Kiely, and the Milwaukee Public Library Board of Trustees will all be in attendance for this event.
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Alderman Pérez says, “The new library branch is a great addition to the city and will serve as a place for residents to become engaged learners and readers.”
Visit mpl.org/mitchellstreet for additional information.
What: Grand opening of Milwaukee Public Library’s Mitchell Street Branch
When: Saturday, October 7 at 10 a.m.
Where: 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.

created: October 2, 2017

author: Ald. José G. Pérez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 2, 2017


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Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele to tour Energy Assistance sites to help kick off new season | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive
October 2, 2017
The Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program served more than 58,000 Milwaukee County residents in the 2016-2017 season, more than it ever has in one season. Improvements to program administration focused on improving program quality, reducing wait times, and using technology, ultimately resulting in increased access to the more than $40 million program. The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as WHEAP, is a state and federally funded program that is administered in Milwaukee County by the Department of Health and Human Services. WHEAP provides a one-time annual payment for eligible residents, covering a portion of their energy costs.
For more information on Energy Assistance or to schedule an appointment, visit www.EnergyAssistanceMKE.org.
About the Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program
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The Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program, administered by the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, helps more than 58,000 Milwaukee County households each year stay safe, warn and make their energy bills more affordable. In partnership with UMOS and Community Advocates, and funded largely by the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Energy Assistance Program’s help amounts to nearly $40 million in benefits, including utility bill assistance, emergency furnace repair and replacement, and assistance with payment plans and disconnections.

author: Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 3, 2017

created: October 3, 2017

author: Adam Carr


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Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission releases 2016 Annual Report | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
October 2, 2017
The Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission (MHRC) released its 2016 Annual Report analyzing the causes and risk factors behind homicides and non-fatal shootings in the city of Milwaukee.
“We have to look at violence and injuries just as we look at the spread of illness and disease, by using data to understand and track its impact and then target public health interventions,” said Mallory O’Brien, Ph.D., Homicide Review Commission Director. “Our intent in releasing this report is to further drive and support the collaborative work underway to formally establish a multi-sector, coordinated approach to prevent violence in Milwaukee.”
In 2016, the homicide rate for the city of Milwaukee was 23.3 per 100,000 residents, a slight decrease from 24.3 per 100,000 recorded in 2015. Based on date of injury, MHRC recorded 139 homicides and 555 nonfatal shooting victims in 2016. This represents a 51% increase in firearm-related homicides, but an 11% decline in nonfatal shooting victims from 2006 to 2016.
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“After a steady decline in homicides over the last decade, 2015 and 2016 have seen unacceptable levels of shootings and homicides in our community, a trend that has also impacted other cities nationwide,” said John Chisholm, Milwaukee County District Attorney. “The success of a coordinated approach to violence prevention is dependent on data like this that allows us to understand the factors contributing to violence in our neighborhoods and effectively target interventions.”
The 2016 analysis takes a public health approach to violence prevention, providing data on contributing circumstances to homicides and non-fatal shootings, analysis of victim and suspect demographics, as well as data on socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and other factors that influence violence in the city.
“The data from this report should inform all partners who are committed to taking strategic, coordinated steps to reduce and prevent violence in our community,” said Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker. “The forthcoming Blueprint for Peace, a community-driven violence prevention plan, incorporates much of the MHRC’s data in identifying where the epidemic of violence is concentrated and where solutions should be prioritized.”
Established in 2005, MHRC is an interagency collaboration of public health, law enforcement, criminal justice, and community service professionals committed to better understanding and informing the work to reduce violence in Milwaukee through a multi-disciplinary review process. Along with homicide case reviews, the MHRC conducts domestic violence reviews, sentinel event reviews, and, in partnership with Aurora Health Care, sexual assault case reviews. This body of work has served as a model for jurisdictions across the country through a national homicide review training and technical assistance program created and delivered through support from the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office.
“The Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission is a national model and remains one of our greatest assets in closely examining and responding to violence in our community,” said Tom Reed, First Assistant State Public Defender. “It relies upon rigorous data-driven analysis coupled with strong collaborative partnerships to identify effective responses across multiple agencies responsible for public safety and well-being. Everyone has an important role to play in addressing violence.”

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Parents delighted by reopening of Daniels-Mardak Boys & Girls Club | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Leah Harris
October 2, 2017
Parent Georgia Isaac speaks with donor Keith Mardak about the new Daniels-Mardak Club. (Photo by Leah Harris)
Dion Jefferson didn’t know the Daniels-Mardak Boys & Girls Club was reopening.
Jefferson also didn’t know the club was going to close when it was announced suddenly in late August. “I was shocked and caught off guard. We (parents) didn’t know what was happening.”
Jefferson was pleased to learn that the Daniels-Mardak Boys & Girls Club will reopen Oct. 9. A $300,000 gift from longtime donors Keith Mardak and Mary Vandenberg will support a new seven-year lease.
Jefferson has two children — a 9-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. They both attended the Daniels-Mardak Club for four years. They loved taking part in field trips during the summer and participating in games and sports in the gym. “They were bummed when they couldn’t go back,” Jefferson said. “There’s not a lot of stuff in the inner city for kids,” he added. “That’s what was most troubling for me.”
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Vincent Lyles, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, announces the reopening of the Daniels-Mardak Club. (Photo by Leah Harris)
The donation will allow the Daniels-Mardak Club, 4834 N. 35th St., to continue serving the community through afterschool and summer programming for young people.
Mardak has been a donor since 1990 and on the board of trustees of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee since 1994. The more involved he became, the more time and money he contributed. Mardak recounted his anger and disappointment after hearing the news of the location’s closing.
“This club is so vital to this neighborhood and it shouldn’t go down because of financial issues,” Mardak said. “I had to keep it going for the kids.”
Jefferson’s children spent the rest of the summer with their grandparents. It was difficult, but the family still made an effort to get the kids outside the house to see the city. Now that the club is reopening, Jefferson said he and his wife would consider re-enrolling the children, since they know how much they enjoyed their time there.
The club’s closure also affected Georgia Isaac’s three sons, ages 14, 11 and 4. The club was one of their favorite places. “We had to help the kids transition. For my boys, they wanted to know how I could fix it,” Isaac said.
Isaac’s boys were all very involved with the club’s activities. They played sports such as football and basketball and formed bonds with the other children there. Isaac said she is excited to tell her boys about the reopening, so they can tell their friends that they won’t be split up anymore.
Vincent Lyles, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, said the club will be bigger and better after the reopening. “The club needed some updating,” he said. “If something closes, when it reopens, you expect it to look a little different.” The new lease adds 10 rooms, expanding the number of members who can be served.
“It’ll give the kids even more opportunity to build relationships with some of our really great staff,” Lyles added.
“When the day is done my boys will be here,” Isaac said.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 1, 2017

created: October 1, 2017


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Scale Up Milwaukee announces first SPARC cohort | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Scale Up Milwaukee
October 2, 2017
Scale Up Milwaukee, an initiative of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, has announced 21 businesses participating in the newest growth-training program called SPARC. Launched in partnership with the African American Chamber of Commerce and WWBIC, and funded by JPMorgan Chase, SPARC focuses on central city Milwaukee businesses with revenue under $1 million. It is anticipated these companies and future generations of entrepreneurs will experience quick and sustainable growth.
The 21 businesses in the inaugural SPARC cohort represent a diverse array of industries and sectors from commercial cleaning and manufacturing to food and retail. A launch party celebrating the inaugural class will take place Monday, Oct. 2nd from 5 to 7 p.m. at Central Standard Craft Distillery, 613 S. 2nd Street.
Athena Communications
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Milwaukee Blacksmith Anointed Cleaners
One Day Real Estate Services
Clean Green LLC                                            PC Lan Services
Compost Crusader LLC                                  PeachyClean Commerical & Construction Cleaning
Confluence Graphics, Inc.                              Philly’s Premium Beverages
Cross Management Services, Inc.                  Prenasis Hair Gallery
Gibraltar Industries, Inc.                                 Rep. Wisconsin Apparel and Gifts
Great Impressions                                          Spearity
House of Fashion                                           The Gouda Girls
M2R Electric Services                                    Executive Commercial Cleaning
McCray Accounting Services
The instructors for this pilot program are Scale Up partners and alumni of the Scalerator program. Special attention was given to faculty able to teach from experience in successful high-growth companies. The four sessions cover topics including sales and marketing, financing and cash flow management, and organizational development. The faculty members are Carl Brown, president of RBK Healthcare Marketing; Edward Bryant, portfolio manager, AVP at Byline Bank; Jessica Ginster, partner and general manager of Fyxation Bicycle Company; Tracy Meeks, vice president, Small Business Banking at Park Bank; and Dr. Eric Waters, assistant professor of Communication Studies in The Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University.
Thank you to our sponsors at JPMorgan Chase and Near West Side Partners for making this possible and congratulations to our inaugural SPARC class!

author: Scale Up Milwaukee