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College Possible awarded U.S. Treasury contract to increase the financial literacy, success of low-income college hopefuls | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Willow Hombsch
October 19, 2014
The U.S. Department of Treasury announced 11 recipients of Financial Empowerment Innovation Funding at the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans in Washington D.C. on Thursday morning. Awardees include universities, nonprofits, research organizations and others working to inform higher-education decisions made by low-income young people. College Possible will be funded to grow and evaluate the financial literacy elements of their program, designed to coach low-income students to-and-through college. The U.S. Treasury’s announcement states, “Through the projects announced, Treasury is supporting rigorous research and analysis by some of the nation’s leading innovators and research institutions – research that will develop knowledge and insights, and identify new and effective practices in these areas.”
While there is significant financial aid available, 70 percent of college-capable, low-income students cite financial barriers as their main obstacle to college. The reality is, the only path pricier than that of pursuing a college degree is to forgo one. Efforts to address this issue have received widespread attention from the President and major media outlets as discussions of workforce gaps and the stark class divide among degree-earning Americans raise concerns. College Possible, a national nonprofit working to create more college graduates, will coach nearly 19,000 low-income students toward degrees this year. In Wisconsin, College Possible is serving 3,300 students this year. Students served by the organization earn degrees at rates ten times higher than their peers, positioning them to earn 1 million dollars more over a lifetime. College Possible’s coaching sessions cover financial literacy, ACT/SAT test preparation and application support pre college. Once students enter college, coaches focus on budgeting skills, financial aid support, good study habits and addressing individual barriers to college graduation.
“Only eight percent of low-income students earn degrees. This is staggering when compared to the 73 percent of upper-income American kids who earn a college degree,” says Edie Turnbull, Executive Director of College Possible Milwaukee. “Educating our capable low-income students is not only the right thing to do; it is the only way to maintain our country’s strong workforce in a competitive global economy. We are thrilled to be partnering with the U.S. Department of Treasury to solve this problem.”
In a recent interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education, College Possible student Robin Heider described her college experiences thus far at Johns Hopkins University, “I love it here,” she said. “The atmosphere gives me even more drive to want to be the best in my field.” Without the support of College Possible, Heider suggests, she would not have considered such a selective college, assuming the costs would be far too high.
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A recent Harvard University evaluation shows that College Possible’s approach is effective and that students served are significantly more likely to enroll in a four year college. The study’s author, Dr. Chris Avery, commented, “Low-income students attend schools that offer them a small probability of graduating. They need to understand that colleges are often very affordable for them because of financial aid. College Possible has helped position these students for future success.”

created: October 19, 2014


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Five days remaining to nominate for the 2015 MANDI Awards | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LISC Milwaukee
October 21, 2014
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The Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (known as the MANDIs) recognize individuals, organizations and projects that enrich central city neighborhoods.  The awards pay tribute to the people and organizations working tirelessly to make Milwaukee a great place to live, learn, work and grow. Individuals, organizations, corporations and projects in the city of Milwaukee are eligible to apply. MANDI is presented by LISC and US Bank.
Nominations will be accepted at http://mandiawards.org/ in the following categories:
: Recognizes an organization for tenacious commitment and effectiveness
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• : Recognizes an individual for outstanding leadership and collaboration
•  Recognizes an innovative approach to a community problem(s)
•  Recognizes a real estate project that enhances the community
• Recognizes a public space that enlivens a neighborhood
MANDI is hosted by LISC Milwaukee (Local Initiatives Support Corporation). Winners are selected by an independent committee, and will be announced at a gala on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Finalists will be announced at a live event on Wednesday, December 10th, 2014.
Visit  http://mandiawards.org/  or   http://www.lisc.org/milwaukee/ for detailed category descriptions and complete nomination instructions.  Entries must be submitted by Monday, October 27, 2014.
2014 MANDI winners included: Just One More Ministry, Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation, Howard Snyder of Northside Community Development Corporation, Three Bridges Park, Westlawn Gardens, and Northwestern Mutual.

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: October 21, 2014

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

author: LISC Milwaukee


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ID not needed to vote in Nov. 4 election | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
October 21, 2014
Voters cast their ballots at the Zeidler Municipal Building on the first day of early voting. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Wisconsin voters will not be required to present photo ID cards to vote in the General Election on Nov. 4.
Voters may be confused because the law, known as “Act 23,” has been blocked by various courts since it was enacted in 2011. In what is probably the final judicial ruling on Act 23 before the Nov. 4 election, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked implementation of Wisconsin’s voter photo ID law on Oct. 9. The majority agreed with challengers to the law who argued that it would likely “cause chaos at the polls.”
The Supreme Court has not yet decided whether it will further review the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals that upheld the law on Sept. 12.
Election officials process ballots at the Zeidler Municipal Building. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
“I welcome this Supreme Court ruling and the strong message it sends to all who think they can manipulate our voting laws just because they disagree with what we have to say,” said Rep. Gwen Moore. “Those who trample on our civil liberties with impunity in pursuit of political supremacy forget that this nation was built on the principle that we all are ‘created equal.’”
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Prior to that, Act 23 was blocked by federal district Judge Lynn Adelman on April 29. Adelman ruled that the law is unconstitutional and violates the federal Voting Rights Act.
The attorney general of Wisconsin appealed Adelman’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. There, a three-judge panel voted unanimously to overturn Adelman’s decision and reinstate Act 23. Opponents of the law then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Early or “absentee” voting began Monday, Oct. 20. “Wisconsin is a ‘no excuse’ absentee voting state, meaning you can vote by absentee ballot for any election for any reason, including convenience,” according to the City of Milwaukee Web site.
There are two ways to vote by absentee ballot before any election: Voters can vote “in-person absentee” by casting ballots at the Zeidler Municipal Building, 841 N. Broadway, before the election; or “by mail absentee” by requesting a ballot by mail that would be mailed back in a postage-paid reply envelope. Requests for an absentee ballot by mail must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
In-person absentee voting, on weekdays only, ends at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.

author: Andrea Waxman


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 20, 2014

created: October 20, 2014

author: Adam Carr


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Lisbon Avenue Art Festival | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
October 21, 2014
Neighbors from Washington Park enjoyed the Lisbon Avenue Art Festival, which was organized by Washington Park Partners and Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity.

author: Molly Rippinger


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 19, 2014


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Turning black into green | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Keith Stanley
October 22, 2014
Keith Stanley, executive director of the Avenues West Association, shares his vision of the “black Milwaukee experience.”
Across this world, this state and this city, there are people who want to experience black Milwaukee in a unique, safe, warm and friendly environment.
What is the “black Milwaukee experience?” And are people interested in such an experience, as the statement above claims? If they are, how can this be a good thing for black Milwaukee?
First, the “black Milwaukee experience” or shall we say, the “Brownsville” experience, is everything black Milwaukeeans enjoy about our communities, families and culture. It is not just about a particular location. It is our foods, faith, music, language, style, culture, dress, etc.
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It is the greens, chitterlings and all the fixings. It is “stepping in the name of love,” “dropping it like it hot.” It is our Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal and other faith experiences. And it is so much more.
There are both local and national examples in which culturally driven economic activity in a community has been led and implemented by black folks. Locations locally include MLK Drive, Fond du lac Avenue and North Avenue over the years. There are also areas in Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and many other cities across the country.
From Sydney, Australia to Toronto, Canada there are Chinatowns across the world that — in addition to keeping Chinese traditions alive — give many of us a chance to “smell and taste” a foreign world in our own backyards. These culturally driven, place-making, tourist attracting, commercial corridors are financial opportunities for local Chinese communities across the world. Other ethnic examples include Little Italy in Chicago and Cesar Chavez Drive in Milwaukee.
It is these experiences that many people outside of the community would like to enjoy. These people have money to spend and want to support businesses that provide such opportunities.
People are willing to pay a premium to enjoy the “black barbershop” experience and attend clubs and venues that highlight the latest local jazz, pop, blues and gospel musical talents. Afterwards these folks will drop good money to enjoy a soul food dinner, all the while engaging the community in a way that can’t be done via the television or Internet.
There have always been people from every culture, ever since we as humans could travel, who look for unique cultural experiences. It is just as much a part of being human to try unique foods as it is to love. People want to be able to smell and taste, try and critique, and explore and compare. Black Milwaukee should be providing these opportunities.
However, the black community in Milwaukee must work towards an asset-based perspective. In other words, “What do we have and what assets in our community can be strengthened or replicated?”
Our actors, producers and directors need a stage. Tyler Perry is not the only one who can make a play. Our musicians, dancers and singers need to perform and record. Beyonce is not the only diva. Our chefs, wait staff and hosts need kitchens and restaurant space. Miss Robbie of Sweetie Pies does not have the peach cobbler market cornered.
Going even further, opportunities that may start with entertaining and serving can grow into production, manufacturing and development. Food and clothing can still be produced locally.
Communities that understand this dynamic can and will continue to generate dollars that support stable jobs, wealth creation and a legacy for generations to come. And although I support higher education, there is something to be said about the millionaires without a degree who just make it happen.
This is a desire of mine: to see my community, the black community, have culturally driven economic growth engines that create jobs and wealth. It is ambitious to even think about how, and even crazy to mention when and where, but it is so relevant and so needed, now more than ever before.

created: October 22, 2014

author: Keith Stanley


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Gubernatorial candidate Burke announces support for driver’s cards for undocumented residents | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
October 23, 2014
Gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke said all Wisconsin residents deserve a fair shot at driving legally. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
During a brief stop on the campaign trail, gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke announced support for legislation aimed at allowing undocumented residents to get a driver’s card and drive legally at a meeting hosted by the Southside Organizing Committee (SOC). An overflow crowd of more than 500 people attended.
“This is common sense,” Burke said. “It’s good for our economy and good for our workforce.”
After taking several jabs at Gov. Scott Walker, Burke said her plan is to give all Wisconsin residents “a fair shot.”
“That means being able to get a driver’s card so you can get to and from work,” she added.
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The forum, held at American Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave., was intended to address three concerns of South Side residents: availability of housing resources, crime and driver’s cards for undocumented workers, stated Steve Fendt, executive director of SOC.
An overflow crowd of more than 500 South Side residents packed American Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave., to hear the legislators respond to their concerns. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
“We need our cars because the jobs are not on the South Side; they’re out there,” said Fendt, referring to the suburbs.
No one from Walker’s camp showed up, although he was invited to the event, organizers said. Democrats including Sen. Tim Carpenter, State Rep. Mandela Barnes and Mayor Tom Barrett addressed the crowd.
Also in attendance was State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, who introduced legislation last year related to driver’s cards for undocumented residents.
The bill, rejected during the last legislative session, would have allowed undocumented drivers to apply for a REAL ID non-compliant driver’s license after fulfilling requirements determined by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT).
The ID cards would have served as licenses for those unable to obtain or renew traditional driver’s licenses due to lack of proper documentation such as a Social Security card.
Zamarripa pledged to continue to push for legislation aimed at providing driver’s cards for undocumented residents. It was not clear whether she intends to reintroduce the legislation tied to REAL IDs.
During the past three months, SOC volunteers collected more than 8,000 signatures requesting a driver’s card program that would allow undocumented workers to drive legally and obtain licenses. Those signatures will be delivered to both candidates for governor, organizers said.
Fendt claimed that since 2007, more than 65,000 Wisconsin residents, most of whom live on the South Side, had lost the ability to renew or obtain a driver’s license.
Jonathon Zuniga, a UWM student, said his mother and uncle are among them.
“My mom’s been here 22 years, working and paying taxes. My uncle has been here 24 years and bought a house which he pays property taxes on, but they can’t renew their license,” an animated Zuniga told the crowd.
While Burke and others pledged their support for a driver’s card and other initiatives, Ulises Sepulveda stood at the back of the jam-packed room, arms crossed and shaking his head.
“I’m not impressed,” he said, referring to the pledges of support from legislators. Regarding Burke’s comments, Sepulveda said, “Where was all this action for Latinos when she was working with Doyle?” Burke served as Commerce Secretary in Gov. Jim Doyle’s administration.
Still, he said he hopes driver’s cards become available to all workers. Other attendees also walked away hopeful that change would come.
Lupita Aguila, who attended the event with her 2-year-old son, Galileo, said she believed Burke and other legislators could make the plan to provide driver’s cards a reality.
“Latinos will be the majority in this state one day, and our representatives need to come through for us,” said Aguila in Spanish.
Editor’s note: State Rep. Josh Zepnick also attended this event.

created: October 23, 2014

author: Edgar Mendez


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 22, 2014


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Resident-led groups receive grants from Community Connections Small Grants Program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation
October 23, 2014
Milwaukee residents are eager to lend a helping hand to improve their communities. Through the Community Connections Small Grants Program, developed through a partnership of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation and Zilber Family Foundation, 13 resident-led groups are getting a boost to strengthen the neighborhoods in which they live.
“We are thrilled with the interest in the Community Connections Small Grants program and the opportunity to help make an impact in Milwaukee neighborhoods,” said John Kordsmeier, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “We wanted residents to have a choice and a voice to increase the quality of life in their neighborhoods. We are excited to see the results of the efforts taking place in each community.”
This first round of grants provide up to $500 for 13 projects, ranging from water reclamation for a community garden and neighborhood beautification to a positive body image workshop.
“The diverse mix of community projects receiving small grants is outstanding and will enhance each neighborhood,” said Kathryn Dunn, vice president, community investment, Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “We are honored to be part of this program and have a hand in bettering Milwaukee.”
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The grants, which are among the first of their kind in the area, are distinctive in that they are awarded directly to the residents. A group of resident reviewers recommends which grants should be funded. Groups living and working in 21 Milwaukee neighborhoods are eligible to apply.
“Since 2008 the Zilber Family Foundation has supported efforts to revitalize Milwaukee neighborhoods, and the resident-led groups receiving these grants are doing just that,” said Susan Lloyd, executive director, Zilber Family Foundation. “We look forward to seeing the groups carry out the projects and improve their neighborhoods.”
Community Connections project recipients and their neighborhoods include:
The application deadline for the second round of grant funding for the Community Connections Small Grants Program is November 3. At least one member of the resident group applying is required to attend an application informational session. Visit www.ccsmallgrants.org for more information.


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Headlights illuminate Running Rebels football practice field in Johnsons Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
October 24, 2014
The Running Rebels football team practices at Johnsons Park in the dark. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
When the sun goes down in Johnsons Park, the cars come out, shining their headlights onto an open field where football practice is underway.
Shorter days and dwindling daylight have forced Running Rebels football coach Maurice Brown to get creative so the team can practice in the dark.
“Sometimes you can’t see the ball too well,” explained Omarion Bartlett, who plays quarterback for the Running Rebels “majors” football team consisting of 12- to 14-year old boys.
Myesha Hodges, whose son, Brian Johnson, also plays on the team, said the athletic and after school programs offered by the 34-year-old community organization have been critical for her children.
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Maurice Brown, Running Rebels football team coach, says park improvements would have a positive effect on the group’s athletic program. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
“My kids have been going to Running Rebels every day after school since 2005,” explained Hodges, who resides along the southern border of Johnsons Park on West Brown Street. “Running Rebels has been a huge part of keeping our boys out of trouble.”
Brown noted, “These kids are the future. If we invest in them now, they will have success in the future.”
More than 80 players ranging from 5- to 14-years old make up the 2014 Running Rebels football roster, which is divided into three teams based on league age requirements.
Football practice is held on an unmarked field in the 13-acre Johnsons Park, located in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood.
The Center for Resilient Cities, a nonprofit dedicated to sustainable community development, has spent the past decade working with public and private partners to revitalize three adjacent properties in Lindsay Heights through the Johnsons Park Initiative. The third phase of the community-wide initiative focuses on renovations to the park.
Karen Hunt, development manager for the Center for Resilient Cities, explained that the plans include installation of a path lined with LED lighting, which will be the first of its kind in the Milwaukee County Parks system. According to Hunt, the energy-efficient lighting will allow for greater visibility throughout the park during nighttime use.
One of the first enhancements at Johnsons Park was removing berms that lined the perimeter in 2009.
“We were really pleased when they got rid of the berms,” said Dawn Barnett, co-executive director of Running Rebels. “If you can’t see from one end of the park to another, the area becomes easily susceptible to crime.”
Other proposed park enhancements not yet implemented include improved sports field surfaces, an open-air performance stage, a new pavilion and new restroom facilities.
“We have had problems in the past with accessibility to bathrooms,” explained Barnett. “Also, having a place where we could host outdoor events would be huge.”
Jeff Rainwater, Milwaukee project director at the Center for Resilient Cities, explained that a Public Policy Forum report conducted in 2002 helped spark the Johnsons Park Initiative.
Public Spaces, Public Priorities systematically assessed 52 Milwaukee County parks based on an exhaustive list of features that scored each park separately. Johnsons Park got the lowest standardized score.
“This report was brought to our attention around 2004,” noted Rainwater. “By 2005 and 2006, we were invited by the NAACP as well as Preserve Our Parks to develop a concept plan with the community, and we began partnering with the county on a development agreement.”
The first phase of the Johnsons Park Initiative was Alice’s Garden, a two-acre urban garden completed in 2010. The second phase of the initiative began in 2010 and transformed the five-acre Brown Street Academy schoolyard into a multi-purpose green space.
Rainwater and Hunt explained that funding for the Johnsons Park phase is currently being finalized and renovations could begin as early as spring 2015.
“We’re excited about the possibilities,” said Barnett.

created: October 24, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 23, 2014


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RICH program supports home ownership as city expands revitalization efforts | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matthew Wisla
October 27, 2014
Aaron Szopinski, housing policy director, says the city is shifting emphasis more to neighborhood reconstruction and will be demolishing fewer homes in 2015. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
For the first time since the financial crisis struck, the city is starting to focus less on emergency response programs and more on neighborhood revitalization. Beginning next year, the RICH program (Re-Invest in City Homes) will sell certain city-owned foreclosed homes for as little as $1. Also in 2015, city planners are allocating an additional $1.8 million towards housing rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
“We haven’t turned the corner on (the crisis) by any means but, as the mayor has said, I think we’re holding our own,” said Aaron Szopinski, City of Milwaukee housing policy director. “Next year we’re shifting more towards rehab and reconstruction.”
RICH will help qualified buyers get into homes in some of the city’s most distressed neighborhoods by making special low interest, 10-year loans available to them to aid in making renovations.
Program details are currently being finalized at City Hall for rollout in early 2015, according to Sam Leichtling, program director for the Neighborhood Improvement Development Corp., which will administer the program. RICH will be funded by monies already budgeted for neighborhood improvement projects.
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With the city planning to demolish 270 fewer homes in 2015 compared to this year, scenes like this one on South 10th Street will become a less frequent sight. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
Prospective buyers will need to qualify for RICH and only certain homes will be for sale. Buyers cannot have owned property in the city for the previous two years, must have uninterrupted employment for a year and a favorable rent, utility and debt repayment history. Borrowers will not be able to exceed a mortgage-debt ratio of 30 percent, or a total debt ratio of 40 percent of income.
Under the program, proposed by Ald. Russell Stamper, buyers will work with the Department of City Development on a rehabilitation plan to address city code violations and other improvements.
“Everyone benefits from this program,” Stamper said. “The surrounding neighborhood gains a source of stability, new homeowners build a foundation for their families and Milwaukeeans gain another taxpaying property.”
There may have never been a better time to buy a home in the city. RICH along with programs in the city’s Strong Neighborhoods Plan offers attractive terms to encourage homeownership. “What we’re seeing now is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for homebuyers in the city,” said Carl Quindel, executive director of ACTS Housing. “RICH is a new tool helping people get into homes that’s creating new opportunities for families.”
As the city shifts focus in 2015 from emergency mitigation of the worst effects of the foreclosure crisis that started in 2008, it plans to spend an additional $1.8 million in housing rehabilitation and reconstruction programs. Total spending on those efforts next year will be $10.3 million, including home loan programs, code compliance loans and a program to encourage development of city owned commercial property.
Another program, Lease-to-Own, helps renters become homeowners. The program is for renters currently living in properties that the city has foreclosed upon for tax delinquency. In a ceremony Monday, Mayor Tom Barrett was expected to congratulate Monteria Tillman as she took ownership of the property she has been renting. Tillman is buying the home for $1. The city has identified approximately 50 tenants in tax-foreclosed properties as candidates for homeownership.
One sign the city is working through the foreclosure crisis is in the expected drop in home demolitions. Through the end of this year, the city expects to have demolished about 400 homes, the most in its history. The 2015 budget anticipates 170 demolitions.
“We are going to be able to reduce our demolitions,” Szopinski said. “It’s better for neighborhood development to leave as many houses standing as possible since it will eventually cost someone less to rehab an existing structure than build a new house.”
Milwaukee demolishes fewer homes than other Midwestern cities, like Chicago and Cleveland, according Szopinski. When a house is torn down here, it is often for safety reasons, sometimes from a fire or sitting vacant too long, or because it has become a haven for criminal activity.
In the wake of the demolitions, vacant lots now dot many neighborhoods. The city’s 2015 budget includes $200,000 for developing 80 to 100 empty lots where houses recently stood. Some projects will improve neighborhood drainage while others focus on converting open lots into productive places. The city hopes to attract additional funding, and plans to work with a range of partners on the projects, including the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Zilber Family Foundation.
Home rehabilitation and reconstruction does more than simply improve a city’s housing stock. “Housing investments help stabilize neighborhoods,” said Quindel, “and that leads to gains in business development and even education.”

created: October 27, 2014

author: Matthew Wisla


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 26, 2014

created: October 26, 2014


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St. Joseph Academy to break ground on building expansion | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cory Savage
October 28, 2014
St. Joseph Academy, an authorized Milwaukee Parental Choice Program School, will host a ceremony to break ground on the school’s major building expansion. The $4 million capital campaign initiated by St. Joseph Academy is in response to the demand for a high-quality education in Milwaukee.
WHAT: ‘Build for Our Future’ Groundbreaking Ceremony
WHERE: St. Joseph Academy – 1600 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee
WHEN: Wednesday, October 29 at 1:00 p.m.
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WHO: Todd Beadle, CEO/President/Principal of St. Joseph Academy will speak. Guests include Mayor Tom Barrett, civic representatives, and local business leaders.
In 2009, St. Joseph Academy opened its doors with a single 4K classroom and 16 students. Today, the school has 314 students in K4-4th grade. In addition, the school’s Child Development Center serves 170 children per day.
St. Joseph Academy has pursued growth while providing students with a superior education, and is proud to be recognized by numerous accreditation organizations, including AdvancEd and Wisconsin’s YoungStar childcare rating system.
The school’s Build For Our Future Campaign supports the construction of 14 new classrooms as well as a community room, gymnasium, concession area, and office space. By 2015-2016, the school projects enrollment of 384 students in K4-5 grade, and by 2016-2017, St. Joseph Academy plans to enroll 428 students.
“St. Joseph Academy is the heart of our neighborhood,” said Todd Beadle, the school’s principal. “Students already receive a foundational education here, and our next step is to be a resource for the community around us. The expansion helps us take that step.”
To learn more about St. Joseph Academy, please visit www.cdcsj.org.

created: October 28, 2014

author: Cory Savage


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Borchert Field lawyer mediates for a peaceful community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
October 30, 2014
Charles Robinson with Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn this week at the Safe & Sound Annual Awards Breakfast at the Italian Community Center. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Charles Robinson remembers finding himself in the middle of the action whenever fights erupted on the school playground at the Fifth Street School.
“Every time we would go to the office and the stories came out, (it would turn out that) I had never started the fight but I was always intervening,” Robinson recalls.
Seeming to recognize his natural inclination toward peacemaking, Robinson’s fifth-grade teacher made him the captain of the school’s “crossing guard cadets.” The position conferred some playground management duties as well as immunity from trips to the principal’s office, he noted.
“I didn’t like bullies. I was taking up for my friends who were victims of bullying,” Robinson said.
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Now 66, Robinson lives in the neighborhood where he grew up, in the house his grandparents owned. A “semi-retired” lawyer and father of four adult children, he remains active as an adjunct professor, cyclist, tennis player, mediator and community builder. Friends and associates agree that, in addition to energy and resilience, he has a strong sense of justice and works passionately for neighborhood improvement. Among his volunteer efforts are stints as civic engagement coordinator for the NAACP and secretary of his neighborhood association, Borchert Field C.A.R.E.S. He currently serves on the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission and the Milwaukee Police Use of Force Sub-Committee.
Charles Robinson meets with NNS at Coffee Makes You Black in May 2012. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
In addition, he teaches courses in law, criminal justice and dispute resolution, among other subjects, at Springfield College School of Human Services, 744 N. 4th St.
Robinson also is helping to design and facilitate “peace circles” that bring community youth together with representatives of the Milwaukee Police Department. An initiative of Safe & Sound, the program ran two peace circles last year. The organization is now working to expand the program.
Robinson’s training and experience in mediation and restorative justice is invaluable, said Norma Balentine, Safe & Sound’s director of youth programs.
He understands how to frame important questions, how to follow up in a way that allows the circle “to move forward organically,” and how to elicit genuine responses from all participants.
“You’re trying to tell people you’re not coming with a script or a prepared presentation. You’re just showing up with your real genuine self. So you need someone who can make (participants) feel safe and able to open up. Charles was really important to doing that,” Balentine said.
Robinson is not afraid of confronting bullies or stepping into trouble to do the right thing. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School, he returned to the neighborhood and, like his grandparents had done, took a leadership role as block club captain. Remembering the safe, close-knit community of his youth, he worked against the decline that came on the heels of factory closings and job losses in the late 1980s. In the ‘90s, he was often threatened by local criminals for working with the police, he said.
Denise Wooten, Robinson’s neighbor and a successor as block club chair, recalled that he once asked for her help in ministering to a battered woman he had happened upon. “He put himself in harm’s way to get her into his car so that he could bring her to me and I could help her,” Wooten said. “He was very brave stepping into the melee and intervening on her behalf.”
A believer in the power of positive thinking, Robinson projects a quiet drive to make the world better.
In the course of his legal career, Robinson gravitated to mediation. Mediators are impartial negotiators trained to guide people involved in disputes, such as employment or child custody cases, to reach mutually acceptable resolutions.
Robinson and friends meet for a cookout and afternoon of tennis at Wick Field in early September. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
He first worked on labor and equal rights issues. In the mid-1980s, he expanded into formal mediation work as a volunteer at the Milwaukee Mediation Center. He got further training, he said, when he worked for the Rock County Mediation and Family Court Services in Janesville. The training budget there allowed Robinson to travel around the U.S. to workshops and conventions that were attended by people from all over the world. He was often the only African-American male at these meetings, he said.
Robinson also worked as an independent mediator for the Milwaukee branches of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the United States Postal Service and, for more than 25 years, the Milwaukee County Family Court. He still works as a mediator for Resolute Systems, LLC.
In his spare time, “Charles is into physical fitness,” said Paul Kinsley, a retired community organizer and MPS reading teacher. “He plays tennis and rides his bike and works out. He’s on the go.”
He played quarterback on the Rufus King High School football team, and then on the freshman team at UW-Whitewater. Later he was a wide receiver on the varsity team, which was undefeated in 1969.
In the evenings, Robinson sometimes plays tennis on the courts at Wick Field. Tennis coach Bob Rush and Robinson have been doubles partners for the last two years. “We won a couple of tournaments this past season for the senior open,” Rush said.
He also plays tennis with Kinsley and a group of friends most Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Tennis is followed by breakfast at Michael’s Family Restaurant on West Wisconsin Avenue where they eat, socialize and, the group says, “solve the world’s problems.”
For Robinson, that means turning conflict into an opportunity to move forward. He said he would like to help more people understand that potential, possibly by writing a book on the subject.
By all accounts, the pursuit of justice is a core value for Robinson. “If Charles sees injustice, he tries to make it right. I like that about him,” said Safe & Sound organizer Talibah Mateen, who met Robinson when she was working as an outreach coordinator in his neighborhood five years ago.
“He wants to see people treated fairly,” agreed Wooten.
When people need help, they will call Robinson, according to Mateen. “He’s about community and building neighborhood capacity. Even on the block he will get involved in mediation. I’ve seen him at the block club meetings, seeing both sides and trying to bring both sides to the middle of the road.”

created: October 30, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 29, 2014

created: October 29, 2014


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On the Block: Exercising their rights | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
October 31, 2014
Two city residents share why voting is important to them.

created: October 31, 2014


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
October 31, 2014


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Medical examiner brings closure to families of deceased homeless people | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
November 3, 2014
Bodies lie in the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
This is part of an ongoing series of articles that put a face on the poor in Milwaukee, 50 years after President Lyndon Johnson declared a “war on poverty.”
Everyone in the neighborhood knew him.
They offered the man food when they saw him and noticed when his health began to slip, when he lost even more weight and walked a bit slower. Despite smoking discarded cigarette butts he picked up off the ground and drinking booze out in the open, he was considered part of the fabric of the neighborhood in the 900 block of South 3rd Street.
They knew he lived behind a two-flat in a brown utility shed. He was allowed to make the shed into a home by the owner of the property, for whom he regularly did small manual labor jobs, such as shoveling snow and mowing the grass.
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“He was just happy there. He didn’t want anything else,” said George Prentice, the property owner. “He was what he was and you weren’t going to change him.”
But when two frigid weeks passed without seeing the man, a concerned neighbor busted through the shed’s small door, which was padlocked from the inside. He entered the 4-by-5 foot shelter, furnished with a bookcase and a chair. It was also equipped with a microwave, television and space heater powered by an extension cord that ran from the two-flat.
A file cabinet contains case files of the unclaimed and unidentified bodies.. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
In the center of the shed, warmed by the space heater that remained on and plastic garbage bags covering the door jambs, the neighbor found the man laying on a pile of blankets, dressed in five shirts and jackets, two pairs of pants, a pair of socks and boots.
He was dead.
Jenni Penn, an investigator at the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, arrived at the shed moments later and began the process of positively identifying the man and informing his family of his death.
Penn is part of a team at the examiner’s office that investigates 30 to 40 cases a year of unidentified and unclaimed bodies, many of whom are homeless. She attempts to reunite them with their next of kin, some of whom they have not been in touch with for years or even decades.
“I love the thrill of finding the family; it’s a very rewarding part of the job,” she said. “When you are dealing with death, not everything is rewarding.”
Many of these cases are emblematic of the lives of the homeless in Milwaukee. Some struggled with mental illness. Others were alcoholics and drug addicts. Most had not been heard from by family and friends in years. They died alone and their bodies were found in parks, under viaducts and on sidewalks. Some drowned while others froze. Most had very few worldly possessions, maybe just a few dollars in their pockets and the clothes on their backs.
Some of the city’s chronic homeless men and women are regular clients of Mr. Bob’s Under the Bridge, an outreach program of Advent Lutheran Church, that hands out toiletries and clothing each weekend in Zeidler Park. Bob Burmeister, who runs the organization, gets to know them and hears through the grapevine when one of them is in trouble or dies.
“When you think of a coroner’s office, you think they don’t care. That’s not true in Milwaukee,” Burmeister said. “They could just say, put them in a box and put them in the ground. But they have compassion and heart and a death means something to them.”
The County of Milwaukee budgets less than $400 for each unclaimed body handled by the medical examiner. A Wisconsin statute requires medical examiners around the state to make an effort in notify next of kin of their deceased family members, Penn noted.
The job of identifying homeless individuals who have died begins at the scene, where, hopefully, a driver’s license or some other identification is found to point to who they might have been. Investigators and detectives then search the Internet, using genealogy sites, and calling veteran and Social Security officials in Washington D.C. They also reach out to area schools, prisons and health care providers in the area, to try to piece together the deceased’s identity and find their relatives, explained Penn.
“I view them as a challenge. I think about how sad someone’s life went that way, but I also try to understand it,” she said. “They are deceased, I can’t fix that. But what I can do is find family. Whether or not they want anything to do with the burial, at least I have a sense of accomplishment that the family was found.”
Through a driver’s license and Veteran Affairs records, Penn positively identified the man in the shed as Randy Buch. A 53-year-old veteran, Buch was treated years ago at the Clement Zablocki VA Medical Center for addiction. Penn identified him and tracked down family members who had not seen him for 17 years, all within a day.
Other cases are not as easy to close. On Nov. 11, 2012, an 11-year-old volunteering in a clean-up effort near the McKinley Marina found a human skeleton lying on a shower curtain in the woods. Investigators spent five months solving the mystery of the deceased’s identity, an effort that included running DNA tests and sending the skeleton to the University of North Texas Center of Human Identification’s Lab of Forensic Anthropology. The search also involved more than a dozen interviews with possible family members, calls to the University of Wisconsin Registrar’s Office and Marquette Dental School and futile inquires at more than half a dozen hospitals in the area. After five months, investigators determined the remains belonged to Harry Bubolz, a 70-year-old veteran, who earned a degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1964.
“Where it takes months to find family, those are the ones that stick out in my mind,” Penn said. “The key is to never give up and keep going.”
Paul Ellis appreciated the compassionate effort made by the examiner’s office. Ellis is still shaken when recalling the police visit that informed him of his 55-year-old brother Allen’s death four months earlier, on July 4, 2012. Allen Ellis was found on the sidewalk in the 1000 block of East Lyons Street. Paul Ellis said his brother led a rough life, but he thought Allen was getting by until he heard the news of his passing.
“We were devastated, but it was nice to have closure,” he said. “It meant a lot to us.”
Cases involving individuals who have common last names and those who seem not to have any connections to the local community tend to be tougher to solve, said Penn, who has been with the coroner’s office for 17 years. The key to success in finding next of kin is thinking like a genealogist and working backwards through their lives, starting with the most current possible connections, she explained. A former county hospital nurse, Penn said she has failed to solve only one or two cases out of the 100 she has worked on during her tenure.
“They are not heartbreaking,” Penn added, “Because I have been doing this so long, I would have [had] my heart broken too much.”

created: November 3, 2014

author: Brendan O’Brien


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15410273369_c4294e16d8_b | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 2, 2014

created: November 2, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 2, 2014


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Latino leaders address struggle to serve community, reach professional goals | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
November 4, 2014
Alumni of the Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program gathered at the UMOS Administrative building for a recent panel discussion. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Only two state representatives, one Milwaukee Public School Board member and one Milwaukee County Supervisor are Latino, said Maria Flores, program manager for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“We’re underrepresented as policy makers,” she added.
Flores voiced her concerns during a recent panel discussion hosted by the Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program (LNLP) on the current state of the Latino community in Milwaukee. The LNLP was created in 2005 to meet the demand for leadership at local nonprofits that serve the Latino community. The panel was comprised of LNLP alumni.
A key reason Latinos aren’t landing those high-powered positions is that they are being pigeonholed in jobs that cater to or focus on South Side Hispanics rather than serving the city as a whole, said Paulina de Haan, lobbyist for the City of Milwaukee.
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Moving up to those policy level positions can take up to 10 years, she said.
Paulina de Haan, lobbyist for the City of Milwaukee, says it’s a challenge to find Latinos in policy level positions.(Photo by Edgar Mendez)
And while there are Latino professionals, such as de Haan, working in citywide positions, most work in core, day-to-day services that are vital to the community, said Flores.
“But when we talk about power and control of policy, Latinos don’t have it,” Flores said.
The underrepresentation of Latinos in policy level positions was mentioned as a major barrier to improving the prospects of Latinos in the state and especially Milwaukee, according to both women.
Hispanics now comprise 14 percent of the population of Milwaukee County, and a much bigger percentage in the city, according to 2013 U.S. Census data. More than 134,000 Hispanics currently reside in Milwaukee County, an increase of 61 percent from the year 2000.
Despite the increase in population and perhaps influence, it’s still difficult for Latinos in Milwaukee to expand their scope beyond serving the South Side, said Nelson Soler, president and founder of Multicultural Entrepreneurial Institute (MEI).
“I was always hired to do something mainstream or general, but ended up doing something for the Latino community,” said Soler, who was not on the panel that day. “They didn’t see me as a marketer or engineer, they saw me as a Latino first.”
Soler, a successful businessman with experience in banking and international business, has worked for Milwaukee County and the state. He said he spent
seven years serving the Latino community with very little reward.
Griselda Aldrete, executive director of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM), has seen both sides. Before running HPGM she was the director of the Cream City Foundation. She said it’s up to individuals to move beyond the comfort zone of their community.
“It’s about what each person has done to expand their own networks,” Aldrete said.
Still, she admits that the push to serve your own community is strong among Latinos.
That’s because “it’s part of our culture of respect and affirmation and giving back is one of our core values,” said Fred Garcia, child and adolescent supervisor for Waukesha County.
Garcia, who was also part of the panel, said those values have contributed to a strong and successful Latino community in Milwaukee.
While de Haan believes it’s best to find a balance between service and working towards professional goals like moving into policy-making positions, she also agrees it’s important that the Latino community maintains solidarity.
“We need to support each other because most legislators are not going into the South Side and asking us what we need,” she said.

created: November 4, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 3, 2014


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15301054729_af61341e9b_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 3, 2014


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CSNI hiring Project Director | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative
November 5, 2014
Job Title: Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative (CSNI) Project Director
Reports To: Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative Executive Director
FLSA Status: Full time, Non-exempt
Prepared Date: November 3, 2014
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GENERAL ROLE DESCRIPTION: The Project Director provides project management, data management and general management support to the CSNI effort, assuring that assigned projects, reports, data (collection, analysis, and reporting) and fiscal development documentation is completed for the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative. The Project Director reports to the Executive Director.
MAJOR DUTIES:
General Administration
Planning
Program Administration
Development
Financial Management
LICENSES: Valid Wisconsin Driver’s License and insurance required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit.  The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The work environment characteristics include working in office space, classrooms, gymnasiums, community agencies and outdoors.
JOURNEY HOUSE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
Note: This position is being posted by Journey House, Inc. as the fiscal sponsor for the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative. www.journeyhouse.org
Apply by clicking on this link to Indeed.com and following the instructions.
Application materials are due by noon on December 1, 2014.

created: November 5, 2014

author: Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative


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Fathers find support at annual summit | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
November 5, 2014
Attendees at the ninth annual Fatherhood Summit listen as Mayor Tom Barrett and County Executive Chris Abele speak about the importance of fatherhood. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
For six years, Dennis Walton fought for the legal custody of his three children after their mother left town. Unaware of his rights as a father until he volunteered for the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative, Walton found help there and regained custody.
“I had to turn a negative into a positive,” explained Walton. “All the negative things I was experiencing became a skill set for me to help other men.”
Today, Walton serves as the outreach coordinator for the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative, drawing from his own personal experiences to help other local men become dedicated and responsible fathers.
Javier Ortiz (left), an energy auditor with the Social Development Commission, discusses weatherization strategies with Emmanuel Oquendo (right). (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
“It’s a growing issue,” explained Walton. “If we can get men to become more committed and involved in the lives of their children, then we will be able to stabilize our families and communities.”
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For two days on a recent weekend, men from across the Milwaukee area gathered inside the Destiny Youth Plaza at the ninth annual Fatherhood Summit. The conference, which was established as part of Mayor Tom Barrett’s Fatherhood Initiative in 2006, provides an opportunity for men to discuss the issues of fatherlessness and fatherhood while finding help through many varied resources.
“We want to make sure that men are part of their children’s lives,” said Barrett during his welcome speech at the recent Fatherhood Summit.
The conference offered a wide range of resources and services that support men being committed fathers. It included child support case reviews, traffic case reviews, employment opportunities, free credit reports and assessments and health screenings. Registration for the event was free and open to the public.
John Holliman and Dan King, both previous attendees at the Fatherhood Summit and local business owners, were busy exploring the many resources.
“It’s a one-stop shop,” explained Holliman, who said it was helpful to have so many different resources under one roof.
Dennis Walton, outreach coordinator for the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative. (Photo by Molly Rippinger).
“This is a real opportunity,” said King. “Men need to learn how to get themselves together, and here, they have the resources to do it.”
More than 9,000 fathers from the Milwaukee area have participated since the first Fatherhood Summit in 2006.
“There are so many great resources here,” said Emmanuel Oquendo, who was getting house weatherization information from Javier Ortiz, an energy auditor with the Social Development Commission (SDC). The SDC provides human service programs for low-income individuals.
The two-day conference is hosted and organized by the City of Milwaukee, County of Milwaukee, Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Social Development Commission and Barrett’s Fatherhood Initiative.
The United States Census Bureau’s 2013 study, “America’s Families and Living Arrangements,” reported that 2 million men throughout the United States are raising children as single fathers. In 2010, the census bureau also estimated that more than 24 million children in the U.S. were living without their biological fathers.
According to Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, “The goal [of the Fatherhood Summit] is to help empower people.”


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 4, 2014


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NNS on Lake Effect: MPS Commitment Schools Program | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
November 5, 2014
NNS reporter Molly Rippinger talks with Mitch Teich and Bonnie North of Lake Effect Milwaukee Public Radio about how a federally funded program seeks to spark improvement at some of MPS’s most-challenged schools.
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author: Dwayne Burtin


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15402316376_6a821781e8_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
November 5, 2014


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Milwaukee Public Library seeks development partners | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
November 6, 2014
The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) today released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek proposals from developers who want to partner on a mixed-use development for the Forest Home or Mill Road branch libraries. This follows a Request for Interest (RFI), which was released in August of this year and resulted in several viable submissions.
The two libraries are located at:
“We are excited to move this project forward by taking the next steps toward a development partnership,” said Library Director Paula Kiely. “Over the next six years, MPL will replace four of our neighborhood libraries with mixed-use buildings starting with Forest Home and Mill Road. By the end of the year we will have a plan and a partner for the replacement of these two highly utilized community resources.”
The library is seeking a catalytic development that not only provides a 21st-century, technology-rich library for residents, but improves the economic vitality of the neighborhood.  The proposal should elevate the library’s presence in the community as a “third place” through its use of materials and a signature design.
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“Our branch libraries are the nerve centers of our neighborhoods,” Alderman José Pérez said. “I look forward to working with residents to ensure that the Forest Home branch library meets their needs and desires, as well as the jobs and economic development that this construction project will create.”
“The Mill Road branch library has been a heavily utilized community resource for many years, but it is an outdated facility ,” Alderman Robert Puente said. “The prospect of a new, technology-enhanced mixed use library for the northwest side is exciting, and I look forward to seeing what proposals come forward.”
This plan follows the successful replacement of the Villard Avenue and East branch libraries with new mixed-use buildings.  The Milwaukee Public Library’s Villard Square Branch opened in October 2011.  The new East Branch is scheduled to open November 22, 2014.
Mayor Tom Barrett, the Milwaukee Common Council and the Library Board of Trustees have identified $18 million for the library redevelopment project. MPL anticipates spending $4.5 million on each of the four libraries slated for redevelopment – Forest Home, Mill Road, Capitol and Martin Luther King. In all, five branch libraries will be renovated or replaced. The Tippecanoe Library will be fully renovated, but remain in the same building. The renovation is currently in the design phase and will begin construction in early 2015.  The total amount budgeted for the five libraries in $22.4 million.
“Libraries are and will continue to be a funding priority,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “An investment in our libraries is an investment in building a strong Milwaukee with vibrant neighborhoods and business districts.”
Our libraries are the places where we develop lifelong learners starting from birth.  They are the places where people connect to each other and to jobs and possibilities.”
By 2020, we’ll have replaced or updated our entire branch system with 21st century, technology-rich facilities many of which will be part of a multi-use facility.”
Developers may submit questions to Project Manager of Library Construction Sam McGovern-Rowen until Tuesday, November 11th at close of business. Questions and answers will be made available to the public on the library’s website (www.mpl.org).
thComplete details can be found on www.mpl.org/about/library_development.php.

created: November 6, 2014

author: Milwaukee Public Library


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Running Rebels’ 34th Annual Scholarship Banquet was a success | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Running Rebels
November 7, 2014
(Photo courtesy of Running Rebels)
While many families and youth in the area were gearing up for the official start of the NBA season or prepping their costumes for Halloween, The Running Rebels Community Organization (RRCO) and their supporting community partners, families and friends were all abuzz at their Annual Scholarship Event taking place at the historical Tripoli Shrine Center in Downtown Milwaukee on Saturday, October 25th. Over 360 attendees celebrated the organization’s 34 years of service to the community, as well as the achievements of deserving youth and staff, in an elegant evening of fellowship, gratitude, and continued dedication to service. The evening was highlighted by musical performances by community partner, Express Yourself Milwaukee, as well as Running Rebels’ own Rebel Life Entertainment. While guests enjoyed a plentiful meal, Running Rebels staff members Traci Amos and Damon Shoates received special dedication awards, along with former RRCO employee John Rakowski, currently partnering with the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) through The Milwaukee Medical College. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Co-Executive Director, Dawn Barnett, RRCO alumni and board member Nate Cooper, and former program participant and Violence-Free Zone Youth Advisor, Derrick Shoates.
The evening was topped off by inspiring words from Dell Williams, dubbed “the first” Running Rebel, along with Founder and Executive Director Victor Barnett. Several attendees received door prizes throughout the evening. While winners Mary Bingham, Gwen Horton,  and Randall Logan won the raffle, with the top prize of a $500 pre-paid Visa gift card going to Craig Greene. Afterwards, guests explored the billiard and reception areas of the venue, while enjoying the soulful sounds of the renowned local band, The Break.
Next on deck for the Running Rebels is the annual Fresh Coast Basketball Classic  (FCBC), taking place over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The Running Rebels and the board of the FCBC cordially invite you to join them for a college fair and exciting tournament play at the UWM Klotche Center on November 25th, 28th, and 29th . For more information please visit: www.freshcoastclassic.org, or www.runningrebels.org
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created: November 7, 2014

author: Running Rebels


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6dede8f2-7efd-4c48-9b1b-e4deff9af79da | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 7, 2014


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 7, 2014


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6dede8f27efd4c489b1be4deff9af79da | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 7, 2014


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Urban teacher-training program emphasizes making connections | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Raina J. Johnson
November 7, 2014
Siefert Elementary School physical education teacher Joe Pitsch works with a first grader on his throwing skills using the “step, point, throw” technique. (Photo by Raina J. Johnson)
Tracey Nix landed her first teaching job in Chicago. She was surprised to find that many of her students lacked even basic food and clothing.
“It was a shock to me. I would see kids coming to school in the winter with holes in their shoes,” said Nix.
The shocks kept coming, but she and other school officials learned to manage them. “We’d keep snacks on us because a lot of the kids wouldn’t eat breakfast or would be late for school and miss breakfast and I couldn’t teach to hungry children,” Nix added.
The lessons Nix learned early in her career changed her views on urban education, parental involvement and what culturally responsive teaching looks like in the classroom. Now the director of the Institute for Urban Education (IUE), Nix is working to equip today’s education majors with what they need to be effective in urban settings.
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Housed in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the IUE trains new teachers to challenge their own cultural and socioeconomic perceptions and biases by giving them assignments that immerse them in the communities in which they will be teaching. It attracts student teachers from many suburban University of Wisconsin System schools to learn how to “teach to the whole child,” Nix said.
First-grade students practice throwing a football during gym class. (Photo by Raina J. Johnson)
“I came from Eau Claire, a rural setting that is very Caucasian,” said Joe Pitsch, the physical education teacher at Siefert Elementary School, 1547 N. 14 St. “I wanted to grow, and the IUE program and Milwaukee opened doors for me,” he added.
The IUE’s first cohort began in fall 2007 with 12 UW-System students. Now the program attracts more than 50 students each year from around the state.
“It’s not an easy program. The teachers are volunteering for this and have to deal with their own biases. They find their own housing and their own transportation,” Nix said. “Our students have to want to be here and they rise to the occasion,” she added.
The student teachers are mostly white women who come from middle-class families in rural areas. They enter the program in the spring or fall semester and are immersed in urban education with all of its challenges.
“Two of the biggest challenges I see … are behavior management, and making sure the kids know what to expect from me as their teacher,” said Pitsch. To combat those challenges, Pitsch had to learn to think creatively. “It’s all about building connections and relationships with the kids. I send out monthly newsletters to the parents and encourage being (physically) active for a lifetime,” he added.
In the IUE program, student teachers attend weekly seminars taught by current teachers and work in the classroom with cooperating Milwaukee Public Schools teachers.
“This year we’re working with over 20 schools and our cooperating teachers understand the need for our teachers to be here. They support us,” Nix said.
In addition to working with teacher candidates, IUE creates professional development opportunities for current teachers who work in an urban setting. IUE also collaborates with scholars from UW System institutions to advance research in urban education.
“Students go out into the neighborhoods, talk to people, and learn how to engage family members,” Nix said. And they bring those lessons back into the classroom with them. Pitsch said those assignments have helped him during his first year teaching in his own classroom. “I wanted to change the kids’ perception of what physical education was. All they knew was play.”
IUE students struggle with the lack of parental involvement, Nix said. “They often wonder why parents don’t come to parent-teacher conferences.” We teach them that they need to think creatively about engaging parents. They can try sending text messages or emails. They can visit parents at home or spend time talking with them when they come to school to pick up their children.
“Sending letters home doesn’t work for everybody,” she explained.

author: Raina J. Johnson


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 6, 2014


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Neighborhood residents welcome ‘ShotSpotter’ and heightened police presence | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
November 10, 2014
Milwaukee police officers are able to quickly respond when ShotSpotter sensors detect gunfire. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Pat Gleason and his wife, Jeanette, are accustomed to hearing gunfire near their Washington Park home and business.
“Just the other night, I heard two shots while working out in my garage,” explained Gleason, who with his wife owns Bus Stop Coffee Shop located near Lisbon Avenue and 45 Street.
Gleason suspects that the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) has implemented the gunfire detection system, ShotSpotter (SST), throughout the neighborhood.
For security reasons, MPD does not disclose the exact locations of the SST sensors.
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Since 2011, MPD has used SST acoustic sensors to pinpoint exactly where shots are fired. The sensors detect the gunfire and send an alert to the police station and squad cars near the shooting.
Pat Gleason, owner of Bus Stop Coffee Shop in Washington Park, welcomes ShotSpotter as a crime-reduction tool. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
The initial three-mile radius of SST sensors was expanded to 11 square miles in August after the MPD received $350,000 in grants funded by the state and Milwaukee County. The expansion added 110 sensors to north and south side neighborhoods.
“I think it’s a great program,” said Pat Gleason. “It can focus the police attention where it needs to be.”
Carla and Wayne Carter, residents of Metcalfe Park, have noticed an increased police presence since MPD adopted the SST program.
“It works,” said Wayne Carter. “We hear the shots fired and then the sound of a squad car within minutes.”
The MPD and other neighborhood organizations, such as Safe & Sound, are quick to remind residents that SST does not provide all the information needed for a criminal investigation.
“ShotSpotter does not tell the officers what direction the individual(s) headed after the shots were fired or what they looked like,” explained Mandy Potapenko, a coordinator for Safe & Sound in the Community Prosecution Unit.
Potapenko added that SST cannot determine what events led up to the gunfire, how the shooters fled the scene or if the gunfire was directed at someone or something.
“If we hear shots, we always try to call them in,” said Pat Gleason.
The Carters said that they, too, are conscious about reporting gunfire.
In April, SST released a gun crime report based on gunfire data from 48 American cities. The report found that fewer than one in five shootings are reported to police.
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn is quoted in the report saying, “Gun fire data is critical, not just in our law enforcement and crime suppression efforts, but more importantly, it is a tool to help build community confidence and engagement, empowering our citizens to work side by side with us as we address gun crime.”
Out in the communities, Potapenko said she hears a wide range of reasons why residents do not report gunfire. Some individuals fear being identified as the caller; others think the altercation will be over before the police can arrive and some are unsure if what they heard were actual shots fired.
According to 2011 SST data, only 14 percent of gunfire activity was reported to the MPD.
According to the MPD’s third quarter SST progress report, there were 1,065 incidents of gunfire detected throughout the expanded SST radius between Aug. 21 and Oct. 10. The total was calculated from 966 incidents of gunfire in the north coverage area, while the south coverage area had 99 incidents.
Prior to the SST radius expansion, an analysis conducted by MPD found a 41 percent reduction in gunfire in June 2014 compared to June 2013.
Since opening the coffee shop a year and a half ago, Gleason said he has witnessed improvements in the Washington Park area. “I can sense a better feel to the neighborhood,” explained Gleason. “It can only get better.”

created: November 10, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 9, 2014

created: November 9, 2014


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Neighborhoods earn national recognition for partnerships with police | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matthew Wisla
November 12, 2014
Darryl Johnson, executive director of Riverworks Development Corp., discusses the importance of community-police cooperation to lower crime as Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Edward Flynn look on. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
Three community groups have received national recognition for their work with the Milwaukee Police Department to lower criminal activity in their neighborhoods.
For the first time since the MetLife Foundation and LISC began presenting Police-Community Partnership Awards to local organizations around the U.S. in 2002, three groups in the same city received recognition.
The Milwaukee recipients were Riverworks Development Corp. and the Holton Youth + Family Center in Harambee, and United Methodist Children’s Services on behalf of Washington Park Partners. The winners were selected from more than 560 applications nationwide, which were jointly submitted by police departments and community organizations.
“Results achieved by these partners demonstrate the value of working collaboratively to increase safety and transform neighborhoods,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation, based in New York.
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Police Chief Edward Flynn discusses local issues with Harambee resident Darnell Cooper following the award ceremony. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
The program recognizes innovative partnerships between community groups and police to promote crime reduction, neighborhood revitalization and trust building. The award includes a $15,000 contribution to each organization. Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Edward Flynn attended a recent awards ceremony in Harambee for the winners there, and a separate event is planned in Washington Park for early December.
Flynn emphasized that good police work results in community building. He said the police department’s “success in achieving our mission requires strong neighborhood-based partnerships.”
Providing young people with academic support, mentoring, safe havens and face-to-face, positive contact with police officers is the focus of Holton Youth + Family Center’s award-winning project. The program features events such as block parties and ice cream socials where officers informally interact with residents and youths from the neighborhood to build trust and get to know each other. Members of a Youth Leadership Council work regularly with police, walking the streets, distributing crime prevention information and brainstorming effective crime reduction strategies.
Holton program participants come from a wide range of community organizations, including Wisconsin Community Services, Running Rebels, Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, Safe & Sound and Above the Clouds. Reported crime and aggravated assaults have dropped dramatically since the program began, according to LISC.
An alliance between the Riverworks Development Corp. and police led to a significant reduction in crime along Keefe Avenue. Club 2-C, a bar at N. 2 Street and Keefe Avenue, had been a magnet for shootings and other violent crime in the community. A concerted effort by residents and police led to the bar’s closing last December and a drop in reported crime and aggravated assaults in a five-block area, according to LISC.
Projections for 2014 include a nearly 50 percent reduction in violent crime and a 30 percent drop in property crime. Other achievements in the neighborhood include developing the Beeline recreational trail along a section of the Milwaukee rail corridor in Harambee, and building a Kaboom! playground adjacent to the empty building that housed Club 2-C.
Darryl Johnson, executive director of Riverworks Development Corp., said open lines of communication between neighborhood residents and police are critical for community development and crime prevention. Acknowledging that tensions often exist between law enforcement and residents, he believes community organizations can “temper the frustrations so we can bring people together to solve problems.”
United Methodist Children’s Services, on behalf of Washington Park Partners, organized a Landlord Alliance to rehabilitate blighted properties, as well as numerous neighborhood cleanups, block parties and beautification projects — many developed hand-in-hand with the police — which drew about 1,000 participants in 2013.
Another Washington Park initiative paired residents living in crime “hot spots” with police officers, who explained how to use Milwaukee’s online crime reporting system. Working with police, community organizers also held workshops for youth to reduce crime and improve mutual understanding. These efforts resulted in a 30 percent reduction in crime over the past year, according to LISC.
The award-winning programs, and others like them around the city, demonstrate the value of collaboration between the police and communities. But it’s not an easy task.
“It takes time and people to make a difference,” said Dawn Hutchison-Weiss, spokeswoman for LISC Milwaukee. “Neighborhoods working one-on-one with the police department to build trust over time are making progress and reducing crime.”

created: November 12, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 11, 2014

created: November 11, 2014


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On the Block: Community organizer | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
November 12, 2014
Terry O’Kelly, 31, is an organizer with Wisconsin Voices who goes door to door hoping to persuade residents to get involved in their community. NNS caught up with him in Metcalfe Park.


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Home investments improve quality of life in Layton Blvd. West | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
November 13, 2014
Joey Zocher, who teaches at the nearby Escuela Verde, said she purchased her Turnkey home in July to become part of the LBWN community. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Joey Zocher, an advisor at Escuela Verde, recalls going online and seeing floor plans for the renovation of a vacant property in the Burnham Park neighborhood of Layton Boulevard West.
What Zocher, a renewable energy enthusiast, didn’t know at the time was that she’d eventually call the Turnkey Renovation program duplex home. Turnkey homes are foreclosed properties that have been rebuilt with a focus on refurbishing old craftsmanship and energy efficiency.
Zocher joined dozens of residents recently for the 20 annual community gathering of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN), where she remarked on how the two-story, solar-paneled home and other amenities drew her to the neighborhood.
“It’s the rain barrels, the turnkey homes and the parks; this is an amazing neighborhood,” Zocher said.
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Layton Boulevard West residents share stories during the annual gathering. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Renovating homes such as the one Zocher purchased in July are part of LBWN’s effort to improve the physical infrastructure of the neighborhood by improving private properties and public spaces, which is one of seven key initiatives comprising the area’s Quality of Life Plan, launched in 2011. Other initiatives include the creation of a community safety network and increased social engagement.
In addition to the turnkey homes, LBWN also worked to bolster the neighborhood’s infrastructure by awarding 95 home improvement grants totaling $70,000, which spurred an additional homeowner investment of more than $200,000 in 2014, according to Daniel Adams, neighborhood plan coordinator for LBWN.
LBWN newcomers Justin and Linnea Bielinski utilized grants to replace a caved-in porch, install new windows and replace the front door on their new Burnham Park home this year.
“It was a domino effect,” Linnea said. “Once we fixed one thing we wanted everything around it to look good.
The Bielinskis took third place among 56 entries in LBWN’s Most Improved Home Contest this year.
In addition to home improvements, four new businesses and the Escuela Verde school, run collectively by Zocher and a group of teachers, moved into LBWN over the past year, organizers said.
“We wanted to be part of this neighborhood’s quality of life plan,” Zocher said.
And while signs of economic progress are everywhere, so are reminders that improving the quality of life in LBWN is an ongoing process. On a sidewalk on South 33 Street, only blocks from Zocher’s home, sits a makeshift shrine marking the area where 40-year-old Alfonso Estrada-Cortes was beaten to death by a group of individuals after being involved in a minor car accident earlier this month.
LBWN organizers held a moment of silence in Cortes’s honor during the annual gathering, while reminding neighbors to look out for one another.
Still, most nights in the neighborhood are calm, said Zocher, and days are filled with the sounds of children at play. Chances to increase social engagement are everywhere, she said.
“The parks in this neighborhood are filled; I never felt a sense of community like this before.”

created: November 13, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 13, 2014


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How to prepare for ACA open enrollment beginning Nov. 15 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Enrollment Network
November 13, 2014
Open enrollment for health care coverage begins Nov. 15 and the Milwaukee Enrollment Network encourages residents to tap into area resources. (Image courtesy of healthcare.gov)
Starting Nov. 15, a much improved healthcare.gov website and 1,000 more national call center representatives will be available to help new and returning individuals apply for coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
In Milwaukee, a variety of community-based organizations, health care providers, the City of Milwaukee Community Health Assistance Program (CHAP) and a number of insurance agents are ready to provide in-person assistance through Feb. 15, when the open enrollment period ends. Again this year, IMPACT 2-1-1 will serve as the local information and referral call center for individuals looking for enrollment assistance in public or private insurance options.
Danielle Coterel, outreach specialist with Covering Kids & Families, noted, “National research shows that nine in 10 uninsured are unaware that open enrollment starts on Nov. 15. Given that 90 percent of marketplace enrollees received financial support for their insurance coverage in 2014, it’s important that everyone knows that free, in-person assistance is available throughout the community.”
“We want individuals to know that there are just three simple steps to the enrollment process,” said Heather Dummer Combs, Milwaukee Enrollment Network (MKEN) enrollment project manager.
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“Our community was tremendously successful in enrolling Milwaukeeans during the first open enrollment period earlier this year,” explained Joy Tapper, executive director of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, co-convener of MKEN.
“But,” Tapper added, “there are still about 100,000 low-income, uninsured individuals in the county, most of whom are employed.”
Starting Nov. 15, consumers can learn more about eligibility for enrollment in the marketplace as well as BadgerCare Plus, for Medicaid recipients, by visiting healthcare.gov or calling the Health Insurance Marketplace national call center at 1-800-318-2596  (open 24 hours, seven days a week).
On Nov. 15, community members can attend these programs for help with enrollment: Outreach Community Health Centers at 210 W. Capital Drive from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center at 1711 S. 11 St. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; La Murguia Head Start at 1645 S. 36 St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and South Eastern Oneida Tribal Services at 6811 W. Morgan Ave. from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
To get connected to free, in-person enrollment assistance in Milwaukee County, consumers should dial 2-1-1.

author: Milwaukee Enrollment Network


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 12, 2014


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MPS students to benefit from $9.1M in competitive grants | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Schools
November 14, 2014
Students in Milwaukee Public Schools will receive greater academic, behavioral and mental health supports thanks to the district’s successful efforts to help bring in $9.1 million in competitive grants, the district announced this month.
“These grants support and complement the important work taking place in schools every day to prepare students for college and careers and to ensure a strong safety net is in place for our students,” MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver said.
The grants MPS students will benefit from include:
– A two-year, $744,000 federal grant to strengthen literacy skills for students in grades K4-3 at four high-need MPS schools (Carver Academy, Forest Home Elementary School, Jackson Early Childhood and Elementary School and Rogers Street Academy) through the Focus on Literacy Foundations program; the FLF project will include improved interventions including technology support for students who are struggling with reading, more collaboration among educators and more family and community involvement in literacy, including book distributions to expand home libraries
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– A four-year, $1.2-million federal grant to help 70 art educators better serve 6,300 students throughout the district by linking art education with local museums and local arts groups including Arts@Large; educators will work directly with artists to create project-based lessons for students that connect to what they see in museums
– A five-year, $3.6-million federal grant to support  MPS’ “Resilient Kids” program, aimed at increasing access to school-based counseling to cope with trauma or anxiety and developing conflict resolution skills to create safer and improved school climates at eight MPS schools (Bethune Academy, Forest Home, Kagel Elementary School, Keefe Avenue School, Dr. King Jr. School, Pierce Elementary School, Sherman Multicultural Arts School and Westside Academy); Specifically, the program will develop and implement a system to identify students with externalized and internalized mental health concerns, strengthen how students understand and manage their emotions and build on-site collaborations between school-based and community-based mental health systems
– A five-year grant to the state – MPS’ share of which is $3.5 million – to support the Wisconsin AWARE Project, which aims to make schools safer, improve school climates, increase capacity to identify mental health problems and connect children and youth with needed behavioral health services
– A two-year, $100,000 grant to train more than 400 people in Milwaukee – including MPS staff – in Youth Mental Health First Aid to detect and respond to mental health issues among school-aged youth in MPS middle and high schools

created: November 14, 2014

author: Milwaukee Public Schools


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On the Block: Scrapping in Clarke Square | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
November 14, 2014
Elliot Oshkeshequam, who lost his job recently, spent a recent morning gathering scrap metal in Clarke Square.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 18, 2014

created: November 18, 2014


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Native American art show at City Hall ‘bolsters native voices’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Raina J. Johnson
November 17, 2014
The vibrant paintings on display at City Hall were created by youth at the Urban Ecology Center in Menomonee Valley this summer. (Photo by Raina J. Johnson)
The Native American Awareness Project art exhibit on display through Wednesday at City Hall showcases contemporary and traditional Native American art by local and nationally known artists. The exhibit, which includes vibrant paintings as well as clay and marble sculptures, represents four different tribes, Ho-Chunk, Oneida, Menominee and Potawatomi.
Ayla May Boyle, the artist who organized the exhibit, said she gains inspiration for her work from Native American culture. She grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and spent much of her childhood near reservations. “We want to give to the community as much as we can,” Boyle said. “This project is a way to … inspire people to look forward,” she added.
John Cook, executive director of the Native American Awareness Project, said having the exhibit at City Hall means a lot to the native community.
Jim Kelly, an academic advisor for the First Nation Studies Program at Milwaukee Public Schools, played his flute at the exhibit. (Photo by Raina J. Johnson)
Alderman Nik Kovac praised the exhibit. “The more we can bolster native voices, not just culturally, but economically as well, [the] better for everyone in the city,” he said. Kovac is vice chair of the Milwaukee Arts Board.
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Gracelyn Wilson, an organizer with the Northwest Side Community Development Corp., stopped by the exhibit after a meeting. “I learned a few things and I love history. I mean, it’s Milwaukee, it has all the (native) names. How can people not acknowledge the work of Native Americans?” she said.
The exhibit features musical entertainment daily from 12 to 1 p.m. On a recent weekday, Jim Kelly played a flute made out of oak.
“We don’t use sheet music. Every song I play is different. It’s a gift for the audience,” he said. Kelly is an academic advisor for the First Nation Studies Program at Milwaukee Public Schools.
“We’re in the schools, working with Native American kids,” Kelly noted. “They sometimes have a lot of questions, and we help them navigate through them. I also sit with them and teach them about our traditional beadwork. They want to learn and they show up,” Kelly said.
Activities such as the Native American Awareness Project work to bring people together, Cook said. Referring to how artwork was selected for the exhibit, he said, “We try to be above the bar so everybody can have a chance.”
When the exhibit closes at City Hall, the facilitators hope to set up a native market, Cook said.
“We’re trying to create new conversations, because we’re in a new time. For the native community to grow, we have to think differently,” Boyle added.

created: November 17, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 17, 2014