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Some health providers see surge in eating disorders | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
July 29, 2021
Some warning signs of an eating disorder may include preoccupation with meals, excessive calorie counting and being overly controlling of what is eaten. (stock photo)
Some Milwaukee health leaders say they are seeing a surge in eating disorders that they link to challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Keisha Adams, associate program director for the adolescent medicine fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, said there is a backlog in services. New patients may have to wait until September to be seen, she said.
“Things are getting better on the in-patient side, but like most mental health issues, there aren’t enough resources out there,” Adams said.
Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc is one of the only in-patient eating disorder clinics in the Milwaukee area. (Photo provided by Rogers Behavioral Health)
Across the country, eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa increased dramatically during the pandemic. According to a report from nonprofit data analyst FAIR Health, eating disorders became the fifth most commonly diagnosed mental health issue in August 2020. The National Eating Disorders Hotline saw a 40% jump in calls as of March.
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These disorders can be tied to an obsession with weight and body image and present themselves in the form of binge eating or purging food after meals.
“This has been a whole different level of demand,” said Dr. Brad Smith, medical director of Eating Disorder Recovery at Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc. “We’ve stretched about as far as we can to keep getting people in here.”
Medical experts attribute the spike to the lockdown and other stresses created by the pandemic, which they say have caused an increase in mental health issues across the board, including eating disorders.
‘A whole new set of stress’
Bridgett Wilder, a dietitian and owner of Perseverance Health and Wellness located at Walnut Way’s Innovation and Wellness Commons, said isolation and a lack of activity because of the pandemic likely exacerbated pre-existing feelings of depression. In addition, not having a routine or structure during the day also made it difficult to establish healthy eating habits, she said.
Bridgett Wilder is a fitness coach and dietitian at Walnut Way’s Wellness Commons. She tries to implant a positive body image in youth she works with. (Photo provided by Bridgett Wilder)
“It’s a whole new set of stress, but we don’t think about how it’s affecting our eating patterns,” Wilder said. “Now take a teenager who’s still navigating life and now they have to do school online, or they can choose not to sign in to class and their grades get stagnated … that’s a different type of stressor for a youth.”
The Oconomowoc campus of the Rogers Behavioral Health is one of the Milwaukee area’s only options for in-patient eating disorder treatment. Area hospitals refer patients who need long-term help to Oconomowoc. Smith said the center is struggling to keep up with demand despite increasing the number of beds available.
An eating disorder unit at Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in Wauwatosa closed before the pandemic, but Aurora still offers outpatient services.
Smith urged people to seek help from medical professionals, even if they can’t get into a long-term care facility right away. The difference could be lifesaving, Smith said, due to high mortality rates tied to eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate out of any mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This is due to a combination of starvation and metabolic collapse, as well as higher suicide rates among women particularly with the disorder.
Dr. Brad Smith is medical director of Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc. He urged people with eating disorders to seek help in the short-term if they cannot get into in-patient facilities. (Photo provided by Rogers Behavioral Health)
Adams encouraged people to consult with their primary care physicians and to “build a team” that can help navigate the disorder. This means addressing as many sides of the problem as needed: the medical aspect, the dietary aspect and the therapy aspect, among them.
Smith said most eating disorders can be observed by other people during meal times. Some warning signs of an eating disorder may include a preoccupation with meals, excessive calorie counting and being overly controlling of what is eaten, Adams said.
Wilder stressed the importance of listening to young people who may be dealing with an eating disorder.
“There are things that youth might be going through that they can’t verbalize, but they may punish or reward themselves through food because they don’t have an outlet,” Wilder said.
Where to find help
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, visit any community health center with a behavioral health division.
This includes Outreach Community Health Centers, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, Progressive Community Health Centers and Milwaukee Health Services.
REDI Clinic:  2500 N. Mayfair Rd., Sixth Floor (Mayfair Mall). Call 414-727-4455
Hillary Counseling: 1661 N. Water St. Call (414) 333-9969 or visit this webpage and fill out the form to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Rogers Behavioral Health: Visit this webpage for a free screening.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 28, 2021

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Dwayne Burtin


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5 things to do and know the weekend of July 30 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
July 30, 2021
The Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative is unveiling its new mural of Dolores Huerta on Saturday, July 31. (Photo by Adam Carr)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as you get ready for your weekend.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Milwaukee Health Department 20th annual Back-to-School Health Fair: Friday, July 30 and Friday, July 6
The Milwaukee Health Department is hosting its annual Back-to-School Health Fair. Children can receive immunizations, school supplies, water filters and more. The COVID-19 vaccine will be available for eligible children, parents and guardians. The first fair will take place at Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, 5075 N. Sherman Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, July 30. A second fair will take place at Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6.
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2. Ma’ruf Center community barbeque: Friday, July 30
The Ma’ruf Center for Youth Innovation, 2110 W. Hampton Ave., is hosting a community barbecue to “stop the violence.” The barbeque is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 30. A community forum will take place at 5 p.m. The barbeque is free and open to the public. There will be food, games, prizes, a bounce house, giveaways and more.
3. Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative: Mural reveal and celebration: Saturday, July 31
The Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative is hosting a mural reveal and celebration. The mural is a depiction of Dolores Huerta, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association. The event will take place at the UScellular store, 1247 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 31.
4. Puerto Rican Family Festival: Sunday, Aug. 1
The eighth annual Puerto Rican Family Festival is happening this weekend. The festival will take place at Wilson Park, 1601 W. Howard Ave., starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1. There will be entertainment, contests, a job, health and education fair and more. For more information, call 414-383-1000.
5. Virtual card writing and pen pal matching: Sunday, Aug. 1
Black and Pink: Milwaukee is looking for people interested in becoming pen pals with people in prison who identify as LGBTQ+. On the first Sunday of every month, the group is hosting a card writing and pen pal matching program. Participants will learn about the program, decorate birthday cards, get matched with a pen pal and more. This week, the event will take place on Zoom from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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8 ways struggling tenants can get the help they need to avoid eviction | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
July 30, 2021
Tenants will be at risk of losing their homes once the federal ban on evictions ends Saturday. (NNS file photo)
On Saturday, July 31, the federal eviction moratorium expires. This means tenants could possibly lose their homes after having enjoyed protections throughout the pandemic.
While Congress authorized $46 billion to go to tenants across the country, many have been unable to access the funds, according to The Eviction Lab at Princeton University, which creates data, interactive tools and research to help tenants and policymakers understand the eviction crisis.
We’ve written about this topic numerous times but thought we would resurface some resources that can help anyone struggling to make payments.
1. Talk it out
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The first step, our experts have said repeatedly, is reaching out to your landlord and communicating your issue. You can also reach out to the Rental Housing Resource Center for help.
“Most conflicts start off with unmet expectations,” said Amy Koltz, executive director of Mediate Milwaukee, which helps landlords and tenants work through disagreements. “This is true for tenant and landlord relationships as well. Communicating those expectation in the beginning can be the difference in the end.”
2. Milwaukee resources to consult if you’re worried about eviction
3. Frequently asked questions
4. Four main takeaways from “Making rent,” a conversation about eviction and tenant rights
5. Check out our Instagram Story on “Milwaukee resources to help you avoid evictions.”
6. Check out our Instagram Story on affordable housing to rent.
7. Help is just a text away with our News414 project with our friends from Wisconsin Watch. Text MILWAUKEE to 73224 to see how it works.
8. What renters need to know about the eviction process

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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Neighborhood News Service, Wisconsin Watch win $1.4 million grant to strengthen journalism in Milwaukee, across Wisconsin | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
July 30, 2021
The NNS staff is committed to telling the stories of the ordinary people who do extraordinary things in our community. “It’s rare that an outside donor invests heavily in a hyperlocal newsroom like NNS,” says Ron Smith, editor and project director of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. “This is a testament to the commitment of staff past and present. And now we need the community to help us on our pathway to sustainable growth.” (Photo by Sue Vliet)
The American Journalism Project has jointly awarded the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism $1.4 million over three years to support their efforts to reshape the local news ecosystem in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin.
The grant will build revenue and operations teams at both nonprofit newsrooms to support the expansion of journalism that represents, informs and engages local communities. It will also strengthen the newsrooms’ already close partnership, which last year involved launching News414 — a project that uses text messages, social media, events and other tools to provide critical information to underserved audiences.
NNS, a project of the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University, is celebrating 10 years of serving Milwaukee’s central city neighborhoods this year. The university offers in-kind services such as office space, helps with fund-raising and pays the salary of the NNS editor, who serves on the faculty. But the money to pay for NNS’ professional staff of six part-time editors and reporters as well as the newsroom’s two full-time Report For America reporters comes from individual donors and the support of Milwaukee’s philanthropic community.
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“This transformational gift will allow our newsrooms the breathing room needed to focus on creating a strong business infrastructure to sustain and support the great journalism we produce,” said Ron Smith, the editor and project director for NNS. “We are grateful to earn the trust of a national organization that cares about serving communities of color and preserving local journalism. This will take NNS and Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism to the next level.”
The grant will fund an NNS staffer fully dedicated to bringing in new streams of revenue—a first for the newsroom—and it will support a full-time News414 project director. The grant will also support salaries at the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, a nonprofit newsroom based in Madison that focuses on government integrity and quality of life issues. The positions include an audience growth director, grants manager, operations administrator and development assistant who also will do some work for NNS.
“This is a giant boost for journalism that matters in Wisconsin,” said Andy Hall, executive director of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and its news outlet, Wisconsin Watch. “This rare investment underscores the value in collaboration, and we believe other newsrooms across our state and country can replicate our approach and ensure that even more communities get the vital information they need at a time when newsrooms are shrinking.”
The American Journalism Project, or AJP, is a national venture philanthropy fund and will work closely with the center and NNS to support their joint goal: To build a replicable model of journalism that plugs information and accountability gaps resulting from Wisconsin’s broken systems and staggering racial inequity — engaging residents in identifying problems and exploring solutions.
The newsrooms aim to build upon their success and lessons learned through News414.
Using a model pioneered by Detroit’s Outlier Media, News414 serves residents in Black-and Latino-majority Milwaukee ZIP codes, where research and surveys show wide information gaps.
The project invites residents to shape coverage by engaging them before stories are published. Text messages, social media and in-person engagement connect residents directly with reporters who answer questions about housing, food access, jobs, health and other information residents say they need. News414’s texting tool has delivered information to more than 2,400 people since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.
The partnership is one of three grants announced by AJP on Thursday. The others went to El Paso Matters and Mountain State Spotlight.
“El Paso Matters, Mountain State Spotlight, Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service are part of a new generation of organizations that is leading us to reimagine local news in service of communities,” said Sarabeth Berman, CEO of AJP. “El Paso Matters is doing vital reporting on a region with national and international importance, but with a nuanced local lens for a local audience. The remarkable partnership between Wisconsin Watch and Neighborhood News Service is demonstrating how accountability reporting and community news work together to deliver crucial information to residents, and Mountain State Spotlight is making sure that West Virginians have the reporting they need to shape the future of their state.”

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 29, 2021


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Post from Community: COVID-19 testing and vaccination hours to change | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
July 31, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
To ensure easily accessible COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for everyone, the Milwaukee Health Department is adjusting the hours of the Northwest Health Center (7630 W. Mill Rd.) and Southside Health Center (1639 S. 23rd St.). Additionally, all COVID-19 services at the Northwest Health Center will be moved out of the former Mill Road Library and into the detached garage.
Beginning Monday, August 2, the hours for COVID-19 testing and vaccination at both locations will be:
Monday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday: 12 – 6 p.m.
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 12 – 6 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED
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Drive-thru COVID-19 testing continues at American Family Field every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the east parking lot, designated as the “Yount Lot.” Rapid antigen tests will additionally become available at this location at a future date.
Updated information regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccinations can be found on the Milwaukee Health Department’s website: milwaukee.gov/coronavirus.

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Post from Community: Schedule released for 10th annual Bronzeville Week | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Milele A. Coggs
July 31, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs released the schedule for the 10 annual (2021) Bronzeville Week (August 7-14).
Please see below for full schedule and additional details.
Bronzeville Week 2021 takes place from August 7 – 14, with the HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run kicking things off on Saturday, August 7 at 8:30 a.m. Brunch in Bronzeville is on Saturday and Sunday (August 7 & 8) from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., and We Do It For the Culture: Old School Day Party, is on Sunday (August 8) from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Bronzeville Sleepover for Education starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday and goes until 8 a.m. on Monday, August 9.
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This year’s Bronzeville Week will be a hybrid of virtual and in-person events. The details of events can be found on the Bronzeville Week Facebook page.
An official City of Milwaukee event now in its 10th full year, Bronzeville Week has become the premier celebration of Milwaukee’s rich African American legacy of culture, arts, history and entertainment.
“Bronzeville Week is a celebration of arts, culture, commerce and the tremendous history of the Bronzeville District, and this 10 year is very special,” Alderwoman Coggs said. “The events have enriched and brought joy to thousands of attendees over the years, and I encourage you to be a part of it from August 7 to the 14.”
Space is limited for all in-person events, and COVID-19 safety protocols will be practiced (including encouraging mask wearing).
The Presenting sponsors for the 2021 Bronzeville Week are Historic King Drive BID#8, American Family Insurance, and the Milwaukee County Office of African American Affairs. Partner sponsors are Maures Development, LLC, ThriveOn Collaboration, and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
The Supporter sponsors are P3 Development Group, Athena Communications, Direct Supply, General Capital Group, and Emem Group.
Alderwoman Coggs said Bronzeville Week is also supported by many, many community partners.
The Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District is a City of Milwaukee redevelopment initiative inspired by Milwaukee’s original Bronzeville, and it is striving to revitalize the area of Milwaukee where African-American culture has been a mainstay. The Bronzeville Redevelopment Plan seeks to create economic development in a predominantly African-American neighborhood in a way that recaptures the enthusiasm and attractiveness of the original Bronzeville District.  Bounded by Garfield Avenue to Center Street, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive to 7th Street, the Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District is wholly located in the 6th Aldermanic District.
Please go to milwaukee.gov/Bronzeville for information about 2021 Bronzeville Week.
NOTE: The HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run event will take place in-person on Saturday, August 7, or participants can also complete the Walk/Run in their own neighborhood or on self-designed routes from August 1 to August 7.
Participants can also find additional information and register online by visiting www.bit.ly/HaRUNbee2021.

author: Ald. Milele A. Coggs


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 31, 2021


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Aug. 2 to Aug. 7 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
August 2, 2021
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center is hosting its annual community health fair on Thursday, Aug. 5. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as we head into the week. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Penfield Children’s Center playground reveal: Monday, Aug. 2
The Penfield’s Children’s Center, 833 N. 26th St., is unveiling its new playground at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 2. The playground is suitable for all children, including those with developmental delays or disabilities. The event will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a short presentation and refreshments. The center provides early education, health services and family programming for infants and children, many of whom have developmental delays or disabilities.
2. Walker’s Point Center for the Arts: “See Me Because” exhibition: Monday, Aug. 2
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Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, 839 S. 5th St., will be displaying the eighth volume of the “See Me Because” multimedia exhibition. The gallery, which features young people from the community, will be on display from noon to 5 p.m. starting Monday, Aug. 2 through Saturday, Aug. 14. There will be an opening reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3. To RSVP, click here.
3. Social X MKE: The Wind Down: Wednesday, Aug. 4
Social X MKE is hosting a networking event for young professionals in Milwaukee. The Wind Down will take place at Zócalo Food Park, 636 S. 6th St., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 4. Young people are encouraged to come and to bring their business cards. There will be craft cocktails, food and a DJ. To RSVP, click here.
4. Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center annual health fair: Thursday, Aug. 5
The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center is hosting its fifth annual community health fair. The fair will take place at the health center, 930 W. Historic Mitchell St., from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 5. The event includes health screenings, cultural programs, physical activities, food tasting and more. The center will also be administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals.
5. Interfaith Engagement in Milwaukee: “A Brief History of Christian-Muslim Dialogue”: Thursday, Aug. 5
Marquette University and the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition are presenting “Interfaith Engagement in Milwaukee: A Brief History of Christian-Muslim Dialogue.” The panel discussion features local leaders in the faith community. The conversation will look at interfaith dialogue and how it can strengthen social justice movements. The event will take place at the Alumni Memorial Union, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave., Ballroom E, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 5. Click here to register.
Bonus: Outreach Community Health Centers health and resource fair: Thursday, Aug. 5
Outreach Community Health Centers, 210 W. Capitol Drive, is hosting a community health and resource fair from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 5. There will be back-to-school book bags for children, free produce, prizes and raffles, health education resources and more.

created: August 2, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 1, 2021

created: August 1, 2021


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New app helps formerly incarcerated individuals overcome employment barriers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 3, 2021
Eli Rivera (left) and Ruben Gaona co-founded The Way Out app to help individuals navigate getting jobs after a criminal conviction. (Photo provided by The Way Out)
Two weeks after being released from federal prison and ready to start fresh, Ruben Gaona made it his goal to become a case manager in 2017.
“I believed in my mind that I had a good likelihood of getting the job with my background,” said Gaona, a Navy veteran.
Although some scoffed at his plans, he was confident, and when he applied for the position through a temp agency, he didn’t hesitate to check the box that said “felon.” But he quickly learned how employment prospects are hindered by that label. Suddenly the position he wanted had a one-year waitlist, and he was steered to a janitorial job that paid $8 an hour.
“I went back to my car and cried,” said Gaona, who knew the job wouldn’t pay enough to  support his wife and four children. “Regardless of our criminal background and what we did, we’re better than what we did.”
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Undeterred, he contacted the company directly and got the job he wanted. Gaona would stay there a year before being hired as an employment specialist for the State of Wisconsin. His experiences pushed him to launch an idea that would eventually become The Way Out, an employment app that helps those who have been incarcerated overcome barriers that hinder their ability to turn their lives around.
Eli Rivera, who had also been incarcerated, co-founded The Way Out with Gaona. He, too, wanted to help individuals after seeing so many struggle upon release.
“I saw grown men crying because they couldn’t get a job,” Rivera said. “That stuck with me.”
Eli Rivera helps an individual access the online platform. (Photo provided by The Way Out)
Finding solutions together
Fate brought Rivera and Gaona together at Sherman Phoenix in 2019 during an anti-recidivism event hosted by the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact. After realizing they had similar goals, organizers paired the two, and their  presentation earned them spots in the institute’s gALPHA and gBETA startup accelerators, which are programs of gener8tor.
“We knew there was something there,” said Nyra Jordan, social impact investment director at American Family Insurance. “We viewed their lived experience as an asset; they understand what the problems are and what the challenges are for justice-involved individuals.”
Taking advantage of the coaching, mentorship, technological and other support from the accelerator programs, the two men launched their website and mobile support app in November.
Here’s how it works: Individuals, many of whom are still incarcerated, fill out what’s called an online onboarding application. They then receive a call within 24 hours, although the timeline is different for those who are still incarcerated, Gaona said.
“We ask: ‘What do you envision your reentry looking like?’” said Gaona, adding that the first priority is to remove obstacles. “Employment does you no good if you’re stressing about child care or other issues.”
Then individuals are connected to services such as housing, transportation or mental health support.  Once their challenges are addressed, they are placed with an employer that has an existing relationship with a local reentry service provider or with a network of employers that partners with The Way Out directly, Rivera said.
“Our only prerequisite is that any employer that chooses to work with us is 100% committed to hiring justice-involved job seekers at a minimum wage of $15 per hour,” he said.
Rivera said  the startup is currently working with 200 incarcerated people who will be released within 12 months. More than 90% of them are seeking employment opportunities, he added.
“We want to get people the resources they need before they are released,” Rivera said.
Ruben Gaona and Eli Rivera, co-founders of The Way Out, met during this anti-recidivism event at Sherman Phoenix in 2019. (Photo provided by The Way Out)
‘A ripple effect’
Realizing that the issue goes beyond merely helping individuals find sustainable jobs,  Gaona testified recently before lawmakers in Madison about the benefits of Senate Bill 78/Assembly Bill 69. The legislation would significantly reform Wisconsin’s expungement rules and increase the number of people eligible to have their criminal record removed or sealed from databases employers often use during the hiring process.
“People who made a mistake but paid their debt to society are still being punished for the rest of their lives,” Gaona said. “It has a ripple effect all over, not just on that individual but the families and their kids.”
The bipartisan bill was passed in June by a 5-2 vote in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. If approved by the full Assembly and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers, the bill would still limit expungement eligibility to individuals who have been convicted of nonviolent and low-level crimes. But it would change the requirement that an expungement decision be made by a judge at the time of sentencing and expand eligibility to those ages 25 and older. Expungement means having misdemeanor or nonviolent felony convictions removed or sealed from your record.
American Family Insurance and other organizations, including local business advocacy groups such as the Waukesha County Business Alliance and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, have come out publicly in support of the legislation.
“For us, it’s about recognizing the power of influence and identifying legislation that aligns with our mission,” Jordan said. “We feel that everybody should have the opportunity to live out their greatest dream.”
Gaona said he and Rivera are committed to helping those with criminal convictions.
“We’re going to continue to learn from those who we serve and keep encouraging people like me and let them know their career and life is not over,” Gaona said.

created: August 3, 2021

author: Edgar Mendez


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51339285116_cc6a92dbe0_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 2, 2021


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51339503263_2210f16c85_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 2, 2021


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51340288615_608b1e6374_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 2, 2021


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OPINION: Don’t dilute my work. It’s explicitly Black for a reason. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rick Banks
August 3, 2021
Rick Banks (Photo provided by Rick Banks)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
In 2019, I co-founded MKE Black with the mission to celebrate and promote Black businesses, events and culture in the Greater Milwaukee area. At the same time, I was serving as political director for Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for Black people through advocacy and education.
If you haven’t noticed, there’s a pattern. Much of the work that I do, I do explicitly for Black people.
One of things that has really irked me in my work with MKE Black is the desire to “POC” our organization’s programs or our target audience. Oftentimes people will propose (from a good place I know) that we do things to support or include other ethnic groups or they assume that we do things for “Black and brown people.” I find myself having to be the one saying “No, we’re here for Black people.”
This isn’t because I don’t care about other marginalized groups, but because this work is deeply personal to me and where I’m from. My family and many of the people I consider friends are Black. I’m from the North Side of Milwaukee, and I see every day what the statistics bear out.
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While all non-white groups share in the struggles against racism and white supremacy, Black people endure and have always endured struggles very specific to us. It’s not people of color dealing with the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow, it’s Black people. Anti-Black (and anti-black) racism is a very real thing that even other non-white groups and other Black people can perpetuate. This has profound effects on my people and community.
Too often the struggles of Black people are grouped together and de facto erased in the name of diversity, inclusion and melting-potisms. Too often, people are afraid to address the needs and challenges of Black people specifically for fear of offending or excluding some other groups when it’s OK, and indeed right, to do things FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
So many forms of oppressions were put in place specifically against Black people but somehow, it’s “wrong” or “not PC” to do the opposite? If we aren’t intentional, anything for “everyone” or “all POC” or whatever else will always leave Black people behind. Just look at how affirmative action primarily benefits white women.
Programs put into place to help everyone will always ultimately leave room for discrimination against Black people and/or just will plain fail to close the extremely wide gaps that we HAVE to close.
I, of course, love everyone and am open to collaboration and other mutually beneficial efforts (we at MKE Black do this all the time) but my personal mission is to fight for the most oppressed group in America. My people.
Yes, we’re all humans. But in the rush to remove labels or paint us with the “we’re all the human race” brush we lose the opportunity to see and celebrate what makes us all unique as individuals and as groups of people with similar histories, languages, foods and all of the other things that make up culture. English people are different from Scottish people as Black Americans are different from Latino Americans. We can all be united in trade, love and peace and we can all still be full authentic selves. I can be Black.
I applaud anybody who is fighting to better the lives of oppressed groups that they’re a part of. Women fighting for women’s rights. Gay people fighting for LGBT rights. Juggalo’s fighting for theirs. I also very much understand that many people will fall into more than one of so many groups. And that’s something to be celebrated.
If you are fine with these examples but have a problem with anything “pro-Black” or supporting Black people exclusively, it’s time to check your anti-Blackness.
Rick Banks is a Milwaukee native and is a co-founder and Executive Director of MKE Black Inc.

author: Rick Banks


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51337465229_dcc70495c0_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 2, 2021


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Post from Community: 2021 Art in the Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Century City Tri-Angle Neighborhood Association
August 3, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Century City Tri-Angle Neighborhood Association invites residents to Melvina Park (29th & Melvina) to participate in “Art in the Park” on Wednesday, August 4th and Wednesday, August 11th.  Join us in creating two new Peace Towers for the park.
Find out more details about Art in the Park on the attached flyer and learn more about Melvina Park on the City’s website.
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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 3, 2021


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Post from Community: 2nd annual Pop-Up Farmers Market series | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Northwest Side CDC
August 3, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Northwest Side Community Development Corporation is bringing back the Pop-Up Farmers Markets every Tuesday in August. There will be 20 Milwaukee-based vendors selling all sorts of local food items and other products, including: fresh fruits & veggies, juices, rice, teas, kombucha, popcorn, desserts, candles, t-shirts, and MORE!
Plus the attached flyer has a $3 coupon that will be valid for the first 20 customers at each market to cash in for $3 worth of plastic tokens to spend with any vendor at the markets. There will also be raffle prizes at each market.
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We will accept SNAP/EBT. Markets will be held rain or shine. Masks are recommended for unvaccinated attendees, per CDC guidelines.
Here are the dates and locations:
– Tues., Aug 3 – 3:30-6:30pm – 2400 W. Villard Ave (Ascension All Saints Family Health Center)
– Tues., Aug 10 – 3:30-6:30pm – 2400 W. Villard Ave (Ascension All Saints Family Health Center)
– Tues., Aug 17 – 3:30-6:30pm – 3945 N. 31st St (Good City Brewing/Century City I Building)
– Tues., Aug 24 – 3:30-6:30pm – 3945 N. 31st St (Good City Brewing/Century City I Building)
– Tues., Aug 31 – 3:30-6:30pm – 4350 N. 35th St (MMSD West Basin/Former Bee Bus Line site)
We hope to see you there!

author: Northwest Side CDC


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Post from Community: MATC allows students to apply as undecided for first time | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
August 3, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
For the first time, students who are unsure about which program they want to study can apply to Milwaukee Area Technical College as “undecided” students. The new option will offer students additional help to decide which of MATC’s more than 170 career- ready degree and diploma programs would most interest them.
A career coach will be in touch within one business day, and will share information about career exploration workshops as well as offering individualized assistance.
“We know it can be difficult for students to decide which careers to pursue” said Dr. Sarah Adams, MATC interim vice president of enrollment management. “It’s easy to feel stuck. With assistance from our career coaches and workshops, we hope prospective students will be able to hone in on what truly motivates them and learn about MATC’s career-related training that can help them get a start on their futures.”
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Students interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should visit matc.edu/apply, apply to start a degree or diploma, and list their program as ‘undecided/not sure.’
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 170 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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Post from Community: State of the Ecosystem: Marquette releases report on Milwaukee’s Educational landscape | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Saul Lopez
August 3, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
State of the Ecosystem: Marquette releases report on Milwaukee’s Educational landscape
The Black and Latino/a Ecosystem and Support Transition (BLEST) Hub, a collaborative effort spearheaded by Marquette University’s Center for Urban Research, Teaching, and Outreach (CURTO) and Milwaukee Area Technical Colleges (MATC) has published its first annual “State of the Ecosystem” report as an attempt to amplify the work being done to support Black and Latino/a students in the greater Milwaukee area. Along with the report, the BLEST Hub has released the “Support & Services Ecosystem Map for Milwaukee Black and Latino/a Students”, an interactive map that allows individuals to see the resources available to Milwaukee students.
The BLEST Hub has emerged from years of work and the vision of two dedicated individuals: Dr. Robert Smith, Director of CURTO, and Walter Lanier, Director of Student Research Center at MATC and community activist and organizer. Their personal experience and interaction with various Milwaukee organizations and institutions across sectors (e.g., education, employment, health, mental health) brought to light the need for collaboration, synergy, and amplification to address the deep needs of Black and Latino/a students as they transition from high school to post-secondary education and beyond.
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The BLEST Hub is fundamentally concerned with challenges related to enrollment and retention of Milwaukee-area Black and Latino/a students in post-secondary education and the job market. It is a project that is anchored in a city that throughout its history has struggled with problems of segregation, socioeconomic inequity, and lack of resources. But despite these problems, the city of Milwaukee and its citizens are resilient and hold much potential that needs to be analyzed from the perspective of the student and the organizations dedicated to helping them. Understanding the relationships between the city, Black and Latino/a students, and the organization within an ecosystem provides a rich foundation from which to foster collaborative synergy.
Dr. Gabriel Velez serves as Faculty Director for the BLEST Hub. When asked about the importance of releasing this project and report at this time he stated, “It is no secret that COVID-19 has widened educational inequities across the country. One particular area where this has played out is in college admissions and access.  In the Milwaukee area, this can be seen in the low rates of FAFSA completion among Milwaukee Public School students. While our report does not provide an answer to these issues that are deeply rooted in our local history, politics, and society, it does mark a beginning and a promise.”
The BLEST Hub aims to identify and amplify the work being done to support Black and Latino/a students across key transitions, while building bridges and serving as a catalyst. This report marks an effort to raise awareness to our efforts, to engage more actors, and to begin to build capacity across the ecosystem.The BLEST HUB can and wants to offer Milwaukee up-to-date information regarding the state of the services currently serving students via the virtual asset map. The mapping of the city’s ecosystem of programs, services, and outreach efforts creates a web that has the potential to sustain and support the youth through mutually beneficial relationships. This process of mapping allows the BLEST Hub to design a trusting space for communication, collaboration and coordination among organizers, activists, educators, government officials and academics.
This report and map are the culmination of months of arduous work with community partners, local activists, and non-profits. Given, the recent attention Milwaukee has garnered over the past couple of months the timing of the report is vital. The educational landscape is complicated and requires of open-ended and honest communication between community leaders, students, and agencies. It is the hope that this report sheds light on issues currently affecting Milwaukee’s students and to create avenues for future collaboration and dialogue.
To learn more about the BLEST Hub please visit the CURTO webpage. To learn more about and access the interactive map, click here. For more questions email Gabriel.Velez@marquette.edu

author: Saul Lopez


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IMG_1376.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 3, 2021

author: Name *


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How this Milwaukee native is bringing affordable health care to his old neighborhood | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
August 4, 2021
Brothers Dr. Kevin Izard and Dr. Tito Izard (right) at the recent Juneteenth celebration on the North Side where Milwaukee Health Services distributed vaccines. (Photo by Patricia Milliner for Milwaukee Health Services)
Tito Izard knew exactly what he wanted to do at a young age.
His mother was the “neighborhood mom.” Kids from all around the block would come to their house, some seeking a safe place, others seeking advice.
“Sometimes the people who other people had already written off in society, what people would call like the ‘baddest’ kids in the neighborhood and troublemakers … would be in our home crying, talking about their life experience,” Izard said.
Seeing this made him become interested in the plight of others.
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“I was blessed to be able to observe how my mother interacted with the community and see how much a lady without a college degree could influence so many different people,” Izard said.
Along with his two brothers, Izard was a first-generation college student. He graduated from Marquette University with an undergraduate degree in social work and then went to medical school, an uncommon path for a physician.
Now, Izard, 51, goes to work each day about a mile from where he grew up on Port Washington Road and Capitol Drive. To hear him tell it, it’s a blessing to do what he does.
Izard serves as president and chief executive officer of Milwaukee Health Services, a group of clinics that include the MLK Heritage Health Center on King Drive and the Isaac Coggs Heritage Health Center, 8200 W. Silver Spring Drive.
Working at the MLK Heritage Health Center is a constant reminder of where he came from and the need for these services in the community, he said. Based in Harambee, the clinic is community focused. Residents from the neighborhood sit on the clinic’s board.
Izard works hard to ensure that his patients have their needs met. In his doctor’s role, this may mean spending extra time to explain things they don’t understand. In his work as an executive, this may mean connecting them to resources to help them improve their lives.
In both cases, it requires a lot of relationship-building.
“I look at it from a holistic perspective,” he said. “It’s not about being the best, it’s about being the most connected.”
Izard believes health has five “domains”: the physical, the psychological, the social, the financial and the spiritual. If any of these domains is lacking or missing something, it can manifest in a way that affects someone’s health.
For example, financial problems during the pandemic could completely disrupt someone’s health just as much as the coronavirus itself. People who are out of work, whether temporary or permanent, get exposed to other problems.
“Those families were wiped out,” Izard said. “And now it’s affected their health, affected their spirit, affected their mental health. That one thing, which was not being able to have a paycheck for two weeks, threw off all their other domains.”
He said the clinic sees a high volume of underinsured patients and works with them on a case-by-case basis.
The coronavirus pandemic laid systemic problems bare, he said. He’s worked to help get vaccines into the community at various events, including the recent Juneteenth celebration.
Izard expresses frustration when he speaks about the lack of a plan to reach communities of color in Milwaukee during the pandemic. He didn’t feel enough was done to get information or supplies into underserved areas of the city.
“Anyone who understood urban underserved populations could have written you the ending,” Izard said.
But the frustration goes deeper than the pandemic. Izard said many racial health disparities are unaddressed or simply ignored, either because of a lack of funding or “malignant indifference.” Malignant indifference is when someone is aware of these problems and in a position to do something and chooses not to in order to maintain the status quo.
As a proponent for change, Izard doesn’t always feel heard.
“Sometimes you feel like Don Quixote,” Izard said. “You’re the crazy guy tilting at windmills.”
In his own way, Izard continues to try to address the lack of access in his own community. For one thing, residents in the 53212 ZIP code and beyond have a place where they can seek care from those that look like them.
Tito Izard’s brother, Kevin, a family practice doctor with national health care organization Everside Health, said that he didn’t meet his first Black doctor until he was in college. Now, 85% of the employees at Tito Izard’s clinics are Black, reflecting about the same percentage of Black patients that walk through their front doors.
Joy Tapper, executive director of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, a collaborative aimed at improving health disparities, said Izard has done a remarkable job recruiting a diverse workforce.
In working with the partnership, Milwaukee Health Services has participated in its Emergency Department to Medical Home program, which seeks to connect patients at emergency departments with primary care options at community health centers.
Tapper also said she’s learned much from Izard.
“Tito’s been one of my best teachers on health disparities and equity,” Tapper said.
Izard said the clinics have spent the last 10 years in a “crisis” financially but have survived with the support of the community.
“You have to sacrifice to continue to do this,” Kevin Izard explained. “You can get frustrated because you’re fighting the system every day. It can take a toll on you. That’s why it’s got to be a calling … it’s got to be a ministry.”
His brother sees it as a journey.
“The journey may have a destination, but you don’t necessarily know when it’s over,” Izard said. “You have to be obedient to the journey and not just completely focused on the end result because you can miss all the learning and opportunity that happens along the journey.”

created: August 4, 2021

author: Matt Martinez


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Post from Community: ArtWorks for Milwaukee’s high school interns to unveil 64-foot mosaic sign made from 5,000 plastic bottle caps | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
ArtWorks for Milwaukee
August 4, 2021

author: ArtWorks for Milwaukee


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ArtWorks-Environmental-Arts-Program-Unveiling-Flyer-August-2021.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 4, 2021


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UPDATE: New eviction ban expires in October. Here’s what you need to know to keep a roof over your head. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
August 4, 2021
The new eviction ban is meant to protect tenants in areas where there are high transmission levels of COVID-19. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Struggling renters got more time to work with their landlords this week thanks to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, which issued a new ban on evictions that expires Oct. 3.
Milwaukee housing advocates, including Deb Heffner, the housing strategy director for Community Advocates;  Joanne Lipo Zovic of Mediate Milwaukee; and Colleen Foley, the executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, said they believe that Milwaukee is covered under the new moratorium.  This order seeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus’ highly contagious Delta variant.
The CDC’s COVID data tracker shows that Milwaukee has high levels of community transmission.
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The CDC originally enacted the halt on evictions to stem the spread of COVID–19, seasonal influenza and the increased risk of homeless shelters becoming overcrowded in fall and winter.
In a news release Tuesday, CDC officials said: “The eviction moratorium allows additional time for rent relief to reach renters and to further increase vaccination rates. In the context of a pandemic, eviction moratoria—like quarantine, isolation, and social distancing—can be an effective public health measure utilized to prevent the spread of communicable disease.”
Tenants who have missed monthly rent payments are protected from being forced out of their homes if they declared financial hardship. The ban slowed but did not completely halt eviction filings. Milwaukee is still seeing hundreds of eviction filings each month but far fewer than in typical years, according to Eviction Lab.
Before Tuesday’s news, officials representing the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin urged their members “to continue to work diligently to help their renters apply and complete the application process for emergency rental assistance.”
“We have tenants that have been with us for over 30 years, and we have never raised their rent, not once,” said Ethel Armstead, who owns several properties in Milwaukee with her husband, JW. “Now even though the federal eviction moratorium says that people still have to pay rent . . .  many tenants have taken it as they don’t have to pay since you can’t evict them.”
According to Armstead, the same way “slum landlords exist, slum tenants exist.”
“It’s difficult to provide decent and affordable housing when you are only losing money. We know several landlords that are liquidating and getting out of the business because it’s almost impossible to make a profit if that’s your only source of income,” she said. “The housing market is booming and they’re taking advantage of it.”
Denisha Tate-McAlister, project director at the Dominican Center in Amani, told NNS in June that she sees this often.
“I’ve had cases where we personally worked with tenants, and they choose not to utilize the resources available to them, but they also won’t vacate people’s properties unless forced out,”
Tate-McAlister said. “When they finally do leave, they leave messes and damage behind.”
“Some tenants don’t care about the property and landlords pay for it,” Armstead added.
Tenants should seek help through rent assistance programs being administered by  Community Advocates and the Social Development Commission, and they should reach out to the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center for other housing issues.
Four main takeaways from “Making rent,” a conversation about eviction and tenant rights
Check out our Instagram Story on “Milwaukee resources to help you avoid evictions.”
Help is just a text away with our News414 project with our friends from Wisconsin Watch.
What renters need to know about the eviction process


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26515636729_aee6a9fd65_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 4, 2021


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With one month to go on a grant, Next Door’s COVID-19 outreach team aims high | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
August 4, 2021
The Medical College of Wisconsin’s Dr. Michael DeBisschop (left) works alongside staff at Next Door to provide vaccines to the community. (Photo provided by Next Door)
Val Moore and her team are walking down a street in Metcalfe Park. Clad in bright orange shirts that say “Immune System At Work,” they start catching some attention. Someone walks up to them, asks what the shirts are about, and a conversation begins.
Moore, operations supervisor and manager of the COVID-19 outreach team of the nonprofit Next Door, said it happens just like this all the time. People get curious, they talk, and a relationship is built.
Hearing from people on the street helps the team understand why some people aren’t getting the vaccine.
“What they’re really sharing with us are barriers,” Moore said. “There’s a great disbelief. There’s distrust. There’s a knowledge barrier that we are working daily to try and knock down.”
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These barriers include a lack of transportation and a lack of information about how vaccines work, Moore said.
Next Door, an early education and child care organization, received a grant for $98,230 from the Department of Health Services for COVID-19 outreach in the areas it serves. The organization has a goal to get 500 shots in arms by Aug. 31. It began on June 1.
Moore said members of the team are responsible for around 200 people receiving the shot as of July 29 but did not have an official count. Next Door hosts its own clinics using vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, from Hayat Pharmacy.
“The vaccine clinics that we’ve done at Next Door are probably the tip of the iceberg as far as the number of people that have gotten the vaccine as a result of the outreach team,” said Dr. Michael DeBisschop, a professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
The outreach team partners with the Medical College of Wisconsin to get the word out about COVID-19 and the vaccine.
“We addressed the myths and facts and encouraged them to make conscious decisions and personal decisions versus listening to the grapevine or moving toward whatever your peers are telling you that you should be doing,” said Dr. Dessie Levy, co-director of community engagement initiatives with the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and assistant professor at MCW.
Over the past two months, the five-person outreach team has canvassed the neighborhood, hosted community events and even driven people to vaccination sites. Vaccination rates have been lower on the North Side compared with most other areas of the city.
Moore also has worked to establish relationships with other vaccinators. She gives recommendations to the Milwaukee Health Department for places to host mobile clinics and refers people to the department’s sites.
The outreach has gone to places of worship, too. Moore said there’s a church about every three blocks in the 53206 ZIP code, so it made sense to partner with them. The team serves the entire city, but is based out of Metcalfe Park.
One of its strongest community partners is Epistles of Christ Church, 2407 W. Nash St., which has hosted cookouts and other community events.
Jeremy Walton, an IT support technician at Next Door, said members of the team wanted to get the word out about COVID-19 in an informal way. So they fired up “Space Jam 2,” provided refreshments and held a family movie night at the church. Before the movie, the outreach workers answered questions about the vaccine and showed a news segment from CNN.
“We don’t preach,” Moore said. “We open it up and we say, ‘Hey everybody, we know why we’re here. Let’s have a conversation.’”
2 vaccine clinics
Next Door is planning to host two more vaccine clinics from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday Aug. 4, and Wednesday, Aug. 25 The clinic will be held at Next Door’s location at 5310 W. Capitol Drive. For more information, contact Val Moore at 414-881-7048 or vmoore@nextdoormke.org. Walk-ins are welcome.
On Aug. 4, the clinic will be offering Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. On Aug. 25, it will be offering Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.


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New program will put mental health branches at Boys & Girls Clubs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
August 5, 2021
The Mary Ryan Boys and Girls Club will be one of two initial locations to provide mental health services as part of Project Thrive. (NNS file photo by Edgar Mendez)
A $2 million federal grant will help fund Project Thrive, an initiative that will ultimately serve 2,700 patients and create eight new mental health branches at Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the city, officials told NNS ahead of a news conference Thursday.
Ann Leinfelder Grove, president and CEO of SaintA, said Project Thrive will start at two locations: the Mary Ryan Boys and Girls Club, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd., and the Don & Sallie Davis Boys and Girls Club, 1975 S. 24 St.  Both locations have clinics that address mental health but will have their services expanded.
The initiative, funded in part by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is expected to last five years. SaintA provides prevention, intervention and crisis resources and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee is one of the largest youth-serving agencies in the city. In addition, the Medical College of Wisconsin is also a partner and will collect and analyze data on the effectiveness of the program and ways to improve service delivery.
“The city of Milwaukee has suffered the consequences of ongoing trauma, historical trauma and racism, and it’s impacted the mental health of our community,” Dr. Jody Pahlavan, vice president of clinical service at SaintA and the project director of Project Thrive, said in a news release.
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The program will screen children and provide mental health services at the locations. Services at SaintA typically cover stress, anxiety, depression and self-esteem, among other concerns.
Leinfelder Grove said Project Thrive will implement SaintA’s Seven Essential Ingredients of trauma-informed care, an approach that includes relationship building as well as analyzing impact and exposure to trauma.
“Lives will be changed because we are breaking down barriers to youth and families receiving mental health services and meeting those most in need exactly where they are – in their communities,” said Kathy Thornton-Bias, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, in a news release.
The majority of children served through the program will be from communities of color, Leinfelder Grove said. About 64% will be Black and 23% will be Latinx.
Leinfelder Grove said one of the benefits of moving services to Boys & Girls Club locations is that “it’s a setting where they feel safe and they’re actually in their community. It’s a shift away from the formal medical setting.”

created: August 5, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 4, 2021


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do this August in Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
August 5, 2021
Bronzeville Week is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. (NNS file photo)
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the August installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month includes the grand opening of Escuela Verde’s Newline Café, the 10 annual Bronzeville Week, a virtual cooking class with Alexa Alfaro of Meat on the Street at Milwaukee Public Library’s Cargill Community Kitchen, the fifth annual Sylville Smith Bookbag Drive and classes with artist Rozalia Singh at the Arts@Large Café.
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0804c | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 5, 2021
“0804c”. Released: 2021.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 5, 2021


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Post from Community: Major Milwaukee employers join forces to boost diverse hiring, purchasing | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative
August 5, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Hiring and corporate spending in Milwaukee’s lowest-income ZIP codes would increase significantly under a new program announced today by some of the area’s biggest employers.
The Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative, comprised of major healthcare and educational institutions, has pledged to hire more people of color and spend more with minority-owned businesses in the disadvantaged neighborhoods.
“This is a major commitment by those with the power to make a significant difference,” said Bill Krugler, president of JobsWork MKE (formerly Milwaukee JobsWork), a nonprofit that organized the collaborative. “We’re excited and optimistic this will help lift more people out of poverty and revitalize neighborhoods that have been neglected for too long.”
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In anchor collaboratives, which are forming in cities nationwide, member organizations commit to using their collective economic power to employ residents, and purchase from businesses, in disinvested neighborhoods.
The Milwaukee collaborative launches with seven institutions: Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“These anchor institutions already have demonstrated they have the economic power, and commitment to our community, to make a positive impact. Now, working together, their impact will be even greater,” said Timothy Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
“The Milwaukee area health systems, like the collaborative’s education members, are experiencing a great demand for qualified employees and, concurrently, are committed to increasing the diversity of their workforce at every level of their organizations,” said Joy Tapper, executive director of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership. “These systems also are eager to purchase more goods and services locally, from a diverse supplier network, to strengthen the economic well-being of the community. The Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative will help them meet these shared goals.”
The collaborative will focus on hiring residents, and purchasing from businesses, in eight Milwaukee ZIP codes: 53204, 53205, 53206, 53208, 53210, 53212, 53216, and 53233. The combined population is 206,000, with 33% living in poverty.
The collaborative is currently setting goals to significantly increase employment and spending in these ZIP codes. They expect to announce details this fall.
JobsWork MKE spearheaded the creation of the collaborative. The nonprofit prepares its participants – people living in poverty – to achieve economic self-sufficiency through sustainable employment.
“People in the target neighborhoods need jobs and employers need people to fill their open positions,” said Rodney Moutry, director of the Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative. “Our focus is to identify and prepare people to fill these jobs and establish careers. It becomes a win-win.”
The anchor institutions seek to fill a wide range of high-demand, mid-skill positions — from phlebotomists and medical assistants to facilities maintenance workers and administrative assistants.
The anchors also are joining forces to purchase services and supplies, ranging from janitorial and mechanical to medical equipment repair and IT.
“With their combined purchasing power, they could support and help grow a wide variety of businesses, such as a commercial laundry or a supplier of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment),” said Moutry.
Research shows anchor collaboratives across the country are making significant impacts in their communities.  The Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative is based on these successful models.

author: Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative


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Post from Community: MATC to host public COVID-19 vaccine clinic at downtown Milwaukee Campus Aug. 17 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
August 5, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Milwaukee Area Technical College will host a free, public COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, on the plaza outside the Student Center, 700 W. State St. Both the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine will be available.
Free vouchers for the parking structure at North 8th and West State Streets, snacks and wellness kits will be offered.
The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is recommended for individuals 18 and over; and the two-dose Pfizer vaccine may be administered to anyone 12 years of age and up with parental approval. Vaccines are free, but please bring your insurance card.
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“MATC wants to encourage members of the community, students and staff to get the vaccine to keep everyone safe and healthy,” said Josie Veal, MATC’s public health officer. “This is especially important as the more contagious Delta variant has been reported   in Wisconsin.”
Register at https://tinyurl.com/ek2fb34. Walk-ins also are welcome. For more information, call 414-297-8095. In case of rain, vaccines will be administered in Room 605 in the Main Building, 1015 N. 6th St.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 30,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 170 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.


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Post from Community: WOW! Women of Wisconsin exhibit at Alverno College | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
August 5, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Alverno College Art and Cultures Gallery will feature a director’s invitation exhibition called WOW! Women of Wisconsin September 3 through October 9. This biennial exhibition will feature the work of women artists from all media including painting, photography, sculpture, metal work, mixed media and drawing. Located in the Alverno Art and Cultures Gallery, the powerful exhibit celebrates established and emerging women artists from diverse backgrounds and the limitless ways in which they express themselves artistically.
The gallery will host an opening reception on September 10 from 4:30-8 p.m. At the beginning of the opening reception, there will be a panel discussion in the studio adjacent to the gallery. The discussion is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Artists featured in the exhibit include:
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The Alverno College Art and Cultures Gallery is located in Alexia Hall, 3901 South 39 Street. Free parking is available.
About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

author: Alverno College


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WOW-3-1200-px.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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August 5, 2021


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5 things to do and know the weekend of Aug. 6 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
August 6, 2021
Milwaukee’s annual Bronzeville Week celebration starts on Saturday, Aug. 7 and continues through Saturday, Aug. 14. (NNS file photo)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as you head into the weekend.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Milwaukee Health Department 20th annual Back-to-School Health Fair: Friday, Aug. 6
The Milwaukee Health Department is hosting its annual Back-to-School Health Fair. Children can receive immunizations, school supplies, water filters and more. The COVID-19 vaccine will be available for eligible children, parents and guardians. The fair will take place at Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6.
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2. HIR Wellness Institute: Healing with radical joy: Friday, Aug. 6
Earlier this summer, the HIR Wellness Institute launched its “Summer of Radical Healing” series, which offers the community a space to heal through self-guided prompts. “Healing with Radical Joy” is a program during which community healers play music and offer opportunities to move and connect. This week, “Healing with Radical Joy” will take place on Facebook Live at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6. This event is a weekly recurrence.
3. 10th annual Bronzeville Week celebration: Saturday, Aug. 7 to Saturday, Aug. 14
Milwaukee’s annual Bronzeville Week celebration is back. This year, the celebration will take place from Saturday, Aug. 7 to Saturday, Aug. 14. This weekend’s events include HaRUNbee, a brunch, a mommy and baby care package drive, a sleepover for education and more. For the full list of events, visit the Bronzeville Week Facebook Page.
4. Temporary road closures: Saturday, Aug. 7 and Sunday, Aug. 8
The USA Triathlon and the “HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run” are taking place in Milwaukee this weekend and there will be some temporary road closures. The USA Triathlon will take place along the lakeshore and impact North Lincoln Memorial Drive, East Clybourn Street, East Michigan Street, North Art Museum Drive, North Harbor Drive and North Lake Drive. Those changes will be in effect from 4:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7 and from 4:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8. HaRUNbee will close North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from West Vliet Street to West Locust Street from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 7. For more details, click here.
5. Lynden Sculpture Garden: HOME Fashion Day: Saturday, Aug. 7
Lynden Sculpture Garden, 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd., is featuring refugee designers as part of its HOME Fashion Day. The show features cultural, contemporary and high fashion styles by various designers. Attendees are encouraged to wear something that represents their own culture and traditions. The show will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7. This event is free and open to the public.

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‘Better to sweat in the gym than to bleed in the streets’: How Ace Boxing Club keeps youths on right track | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 6, 2021
Members of the Ace Boxing Club spar as part of a weekly fundraising event. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
On the western edge of Kosciuszko Park, called Kozy Park by locals, sits a windowless, maroon and cream-colored building that’s clearly seen better days. Keep walking and behind the weeds, you’ll eventually find a large banner that says: “It’s better to sweat in the gym than to bleed in the streets.”
That’s the motto of the Ace Boxing Club, 2160 S. 10th St.
Del Porter, a Golden Gloves champion in the 1950s, founded Ace in 1960 to give young people in the neighborhood something positive to do, according to his son, Frank Porter. When the beloved trainer died after a long bout with cancer in 2008, his son took over and has run the club ever since.
Porter still repeats his father’s mantra often. Unfortunately, he said, it hasn’t lost its relevance over time in Milwaukee, where a record-high 189 homicides occurred in 2020 and a similar pace continues this year.
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“We’re all from the inner city, and the majority of us got food stamps and FoodShare cards and struggled,” Porter says. “But the club provides a safe place for kids like that and a place for them to learn how to make positive changes and avoid the streets.”
Club members practice their steps. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Before the pandemic, Ace Boxing Club, which is a nonprofit, served 300 youths a year, although current guidelines have placed limits on its capacity. Some kids join because they want to keep healthy and get out of the house, while others come because they want to make changes in their lives.
“I used to get in trouble all the time and get into fights,” says Cam Wilson, 13.  “But now I can control it, and I just hit the [punching] dummies instead.”
His father, Si Wilson, a former boxer himself, has witnessed his transformation.
“I’ve seen his anger and how he would get suspended for fighting, go back to school and get in trouble again the same day,” he says, while clutching his 1-year-old daughter Zaleyah at ringside.  “Being in this club has taught him to humble himself and, since then, he did a complete 360.”
Genesis., a 9th grader, wanted to gain confidence after being bullied at school.
“I’m a bit of a weird, awkward kid,” Genesis says, as he stood in the beige boxing ring that’s crisscrossed with black tape. “We support each other here, and that’s helped me a lot. I’m not scared anymore.”
Arnelle R. helps Genesis K. with his gloves. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Genesis says training with Porter has helped him build character, and although he knows how to box now, his coach taught him to use those skills only to defend himself.
“He teaches us not to be a bully,” he says.
Heidi Keaton, a familiar face at the club, says she met Porter several years ago when her son Alex started boxing there.
“He is really good with the kids, and he really cares about them,” she says. Alex, now 19, joined the club at 13 but quit for several years after his father, Eddie Keaton, died.
“I just got stuck,” he says. “Just didn’t want to do it anymore.”
But about a year ago, he realized that something was missing in his life. That something was the Ace Boxing Club and the tutelage of Porter. Now that he’s back, he is happy to see youngsters learn lessons that helped him during his first go-round.
“The mission of the club, to keep kids off the street and learn discipline, that’s even more important than the boxing,” he says.
Inspired by her brother, Alex’s 11-year-old sister Olivia also joined the club.
“It’s kind of weird being the only girl, but I like it,” says Olivia, as she prepared to spar with  one of her teammates. “I like meeting people and training, and it helps me focus in school.”
Boxers listen attentively to instructions from their coach. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
The club, which serves anyone ages 8 and older, is open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Each day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance before Porter asks his young pugilists to bow their heads and think of something they are grateful for. Then he asks the group, which is made up of many different races, to look at each other.
“This is what heaven will look like,” says Porter, adding that one of his goals is to try to instill the values of diversity and inclusion.
Then they get to boxing.
“Forward, forward, back, back, left in line,” shouts Porter as the youths move in unison. “Jab, jab, follow up with the left.”
Porter says the club teaches young people the importance of healthy habits, teamwork, self-control, loyalty and how to refrain from violence.
Past members of Ace Boxing Club have served in the military while others have even become police officers and firefighters, Porter says.
A bronze bust featuring club founder Del Porter overlooks the gym. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Ace Boxing Club has been at its current location for around 30 years, Porter says. The building, much older than that, was renamed the Del Porter Pavilion in honor of the club’s founder in 2007, a year before his death. It is the first Milwaukee County building to be named in honor of a Native American.
The inside of the club has similarities to the outside: cluttered and weathered, but not without its character. Secured from the ceiling are oversized gloves and speed and punching bags. Overlooking the club from the top of one shelf is a bronze bust of Del Porter, who sports a beaded black, white and red bandana. Inside the shelf are eagle feathers, a shell containing sage and other tributes to him.
Perhaps the most important tribute is that the club is still running.
“This place has helped so many kids,” his son says. “Having this gym here has benefitted the whole community, and I hope it continues to do so for many years to come.”
Ace Boxing Club has never had paid staff and is run by volunteers. The public can help by sending donations.
“Every donation helps us support kids who can’t afford equipment,” says Porter, who suggests an annual contribution of $100. “No kid is turned away here.”


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Dwayne Burtin
August 5, 2021


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August 5, 2021


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Dwayne Burtin
August 5, 2021


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Bronzeville Week celebrates 10 years starting Saturday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
August 6, 2021
The annual HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run takes place on Saturday. (NNS file photo by Andrea Waxman)
Bronzeville Week is back. And it’s in-person as well as virtual.
The festival will run from Saturday, Aug. 7 through Saturday, Aug. 14. The events shine a spotlight on  Black-owned businesses, Black artists and Black history and culture along King Drive and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Among this year’s highlights are the annual HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run on Saturday. Events will be in-person and virtual.
Here is the full list of events.
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The celebration started over 10 years ago when residents rallied to replace an empty storefront with a grocery store.
“We fought alongside each other for the grocery store that this neighborhood needed and deserved,” said Ald. Milele Coggs at a news conference Wednesday in front of Pete’s Fruit Market, the grocery store the community pushed for. “It’s kind of like starting with a vision, having an idea and having people support it enough to help make it happen and to continue to support it to see it grow.”
The week’s schedule feature art demonstrations, film screenings, brunches, a marketplace and much more. Space is limited for all in-person events, and organizers are encouraging everyone to wear masks.
Bronzeville Week is co-sponsored by the Milwaukee County Office of African American Affairs, the Historic King Drive BID, the City of Milwaukee, American Family Insurance and others.
Want to know a little more about the history of Bronzeville?
Here’s a trailer of “Remembering Bronzeville,” a 2019 documentary by Karen Slattery that was inspired heavily by the work of the local playwright, Sheri Williams Pannell, and her play, “Welcome to Bronzeville.”


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Aug. 9 to Aug. 14 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
August 9, 2021
The annual Sylville Smith Book Bag Drive and giveaway takes place this week.(NNS file photo)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know as you plan your week. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. “Metcalfe Park Painted + Resources Part 3”: Monday, Aug. 9
Metcalfe Park Community Bridges and its partners Artists Working in Education and Health Connections are inviting the community to help paint a street mural. There will also be barbeque, music, a mobile food pantry, the COVID-19 vaccine and more. The event will take place at 3401 W. Center St., from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 9.
2. North Side pop-up farmers market: Tuesday, Aug. 10
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The Northwest Side Community Development Corporation is hosting its second annual North Side Pop-Up Farmers Market. The market will take place every Tuesday in August at various locations. This week, the market will be at 2400 W. Villard Ave. from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10. The markets accept cash and SNAP/EBT.
3. Melvina Park “Art in the Park”: Wednesday, Aug. 11
The Century City Tri-Angle Neighborhood Association invites residents to “Art in the Park.” The association will be creating two peace towers for Melvina Park and want residents to help. “Art in the Park” will take place from 10 a.m. to noon for seniors and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for youth on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Snacks will be provided. For more information on the Melvina Park expansion, click here.
4. Bronzeville Week: Stories from Bronzeville: Thursday, Aug. 12
The Milwaukee Public Library is joining the Bronzeville Week celebration. Bronzeville business owners and community leaders will be sharing stories, history and future plans during a storytelling event. The event will take place on the Milwaukee Public Library’s Facebook page from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12.
Milwaukee’s Bronzeville Week began Saturday, Aug. 7 and will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 14. For the full list of events, visit the Bronzeville Week Facebook Page. Read: Bronzeville Week celebrates 10 years starting Saturday.
5. Fifth annual Sylville Smith Book Bag Drive and Giveaway: Friday, Aug. 13
Sedan Smith is hosting his annual book bag drive in honor of his brother, Sylville Smith, who was killed by a police officer in 2016. Donations such as book bags and school supplies can be dropped off at the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., throughout the week. The giveaway will take place at Sherman Park, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd., from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 13.

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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 8, 2021

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Here’s how young people feel we can improve the lives of Black male students | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 10, 2021
Bre’Andre Walker (from left), Aniyah McDonald, Angela Harris and Alondra Garcia participated in the “Design Your Future” fellowship. Walker and McDonald were fellows this summer, while Harris and Garcia are MPS teachers who helped them with their proposals. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
How would you improve outcomes for Black male high schoolers in Milwaukee?
Through “Design Your Future,” a fellowship organized by Milwaukee Succeeds, about 60 young people developed six project proposals aimed at doing just that.
The fellows, ranging in age from 13 to 20 years old, met every weekday for six weeks in June and July to flesh out their ideas. Some, but not all, of the participants were Black males.
Most of the proposals focused on using school or recreational settings to improve the mental health of Black males. Clintel Hasan, strategic initiatives manager at Milwaukee Succeeds, a partnership of educational leaders across government, nonprofit and private sectors that launched the program in December, said this did not surprise her.
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“Generally the ratio of mental health professionals to students in our schools is not appropriate,” Hasan said. “So social workers end up working on crisis cases only but not everyday issues.”
The goal is to implement the proposals by January.
Logan Funches, who will be attending Washington High School in the fall, said she applied for the fellowship to learn more about how to take control of her own school experience.
“I sometimes feel intimidated around a lot of grown people,” Funches said. “But our world is falling apart. This was the first step for me making a change.”
In the coming days you can find full project proposals and fellowship updates here.
The fellows were organized into six groups, and winners will receive two different payments: a $10,000 grant to spend on making the idea a reality, as well as a $2,500 stipend for each individual youth who worked on the proposal.
Group members: Rasean Bly, Julian Cottrell, Paige Kelly-Smith, Zion Owusu-Yeboa, Kaylee Marsh, Aalijah Herron, Kaysha Gail, Eh Moo Kee, Zara Easter
Jabali, meaning “strong as a rock” in Swahili, focused its proposal on the importance of mentorship programs. The group’s goal is to establish after-school mentorship programs that include a mental health curriculum, life skills curriculum and more Black and brown mentors who students can build positive relationships with.
Jabali identified Milwaukee Succeeds, Mentor Greater Milwaukee, and COA Youth & Family Centers as organizations that could bring this idea to life.
Group members: Amir Williams, Breanna Taylor, Quision Harrell, Delonta Henderson, Fernando Vargas, Jaden Alston, Jace Boswell, Logan Funches, Zion-Elon Green
Voices of MKE proposed safe spaces for Black males at schools with Black facilitators to work through issues related to mental health. This would involve creating and implementing a mental health curriculum centering on Black males.
Voices of MKE identified the MPS Board of School Directors, MPS offices, including the Office of Black and Latino Male Achievement, Milwaukee Succeeds, ArtWorks for Milwaukee and the America’s Black Holocaust Museum.
Group members: Cree Ellzey, Jana’ja Gipson, Jamarion Mister, Melissa Harris, Taye Hardy, Jovan Jiron Jr., Aliyah Ayinla, MaHailey Stephens
Next Generation of Hope proposed a student-led administration that would have the power to evaluate teachers and initiate ideas on behalf of the student body. The fellows said this would differ from student government because this body would have more power to unilaterally act without oversight from adults, pointing to the ability to evaluate teachers as an example of this. Members of this body would be over 80% Black, elected by the student body and would receive stipends.
Next Generation of Hope identified MPS’ Office of Black and Latino Male Achievement, Diverse & Resilient, the Jrue & Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund, Ubuntu Research and Evaluation and Milwaukee Succeeds as stakeholder organizations.
Group members: Jayden Jenkins, Cameron Johnson, Bre’Andre Walker, Aniyah McDonald, Kamille McCray, Karis Haynes-Thomas, Makynzie Russ, Victor Ejiwale, Deh Nee, Saniiya Smith
Stellar Scholars proposed creating a culturally conscious mental health curriculum, assessment opportunities and programming targeting Black male youth. The fellows identified SKY Schools, PEAK Initiative and Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee as potential partners for developing such a curriculum.
Group members: Jalen Gordon, Jayde Gathings, Jy’Nai Geter, Ayanna S. Lacking, Layla Johnson, Leticia Rivera, Marvion Spain-Currin, Tailus Rush, Temitope Osisanlu, Trinity Thompson, Zari Ellzey
La Familia del Futuro, meaning “the family of the future” in Spanish, proposed creating peer-to-peer support group networks that advocate for the mental health and emotional wellness of Black boys. The goal of this network would be to “create a sustainable support group model that can be duplicated at other high schools.”
La Familia del Futuro identified Milwaukee Succeeds, United Way’s Community Schools network, MPS school board, MPS entities such as Project AWARE and the Office of Black and Latino Male Achievement, Diverse & Resilient, PATCH, Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin and Heal the Hood.
Group members: Kamauri McCray, Tyler Williams, William Ferguson Jr., Journey Harper, Cierra Coleman-Elzie, Langston Robinson, Kourtney Graves, Kamari White, Kalea Calhoun
Goal Diggers proposed establishing recreation centers where mental, physical and spiritual health of Black males are seen as intertwined, not separate issues. The fellows identified Peace of Mind, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Marquette High School, Pulaski High School and North Division High School as potential partners, among others.

author: Sam Woods


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
August 9, 2021

author: Dwayne Burtin