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Post From Community: Serenity Inns will hold an event to address the spike in opioid overdose deaths in Black and Brown communities | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kenneth Ginlack
July 18, 2022
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.
What: Behavior Health and Food Giveaway
When: August 6. 2022, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Where: 2825 W Brown Street (across from Serenity Inns in the vacant lot)
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Kenneth Ginlack, CEO of Serenity Inns and a Milwaukee County Mental Health Board member said “We are holding this event to bring attention and educate the community on how the opioid epidemic is affecting the community. We need to get in front of the problem to save lives! This is not just hitting the suburban areas, it’s hitting the black community as well.”
Black people had the largest percentage increase in overdose death rates in 2020 — overtaking the rate among white people for the first time since 1999.
Black people had the largest percentage increase in overdose deaths, at 48.8%, according to the study, rising from 24.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 to 36.8 in 2020.
There has been a tremendous uptick in overdose deaths from opioids combined with stimulants across all racial and ethnic groups however the trend is worsening at a faster rate for marginalized communities according to a study released earlier this year.
“While all racial and ethnic groups we examined are dying in greater numbers from opioids combined with stimulants, we are alarmed to see these trends worsening so much faster in marginalized communities that have historically been less affected by the current epidemic,” said Tarlise Townsend, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy  at NYU Langone, and lead author of the study.
The health department will provide Narcan Training during the event and Milwaukee County DHHS has committed to providing resources.  Other agencies, such as Community Medical Services (CMS), have reached out to be a part of the event. We are still looking for vendors and that are willing to step up to help save lives!
Contact: Alicia Bryant
Executive Assistant @ Serenity Inns
Tel: (414) 873-5474
Email:

author: Kenneth Ginlack


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Post From Community: WisTAF awards $450,000 in Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Legal Assistance Grants | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Benson Gardner
July 18, 2022
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.
Hundreds of survivors of violence and abuse will achieve safety and independence through legal assistance grants announced today.
The Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. (WisTAF), will distribute $450,000 in Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse (DVSA) Legal Services funding to twelve organizations around the state. These grant recipients will help survivors accomplish critical legal tasks for themselves and their families.
Such tasks include securing restraining orders, carrying out divorces, and negotiating child placement and guardianship.
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“Sometimes, a legal issue is the only thing standing in a person’s way when they work for a safe, stable life,” said Rebecca L. Murray, executive director of WisTAF. “Yet there is no Constitutional guarantee of an attorney in civil matters. That’s why legal assistance is crucial for making ‘justice for all’ a reality. In fact, survivors of violence and abuse in Wisconsin face far more legal issues than our state’s funding allocation is currently able to address.”
The State of Wisconsin created the DVSA Civil Legal Services program in 2015. The program taps funds from the federal Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program. Clients in the DSVA program are parents or caretakers of children, or are pregnant, with limited incomes or limited access to their own money. Abusers frequently prevent survivors from accessing their own funds.
Details on the twelve grants are listed below. WisTAF administers the DVSA program, reporting to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
WisTAF is the state’s civil legal aid funding administrator established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created by the Court to aid in the administration of justice, WisTAF works with civil legal aid organizations in the state to increase access to justice. WisTAF oversees funds and invests in services to help people resolve legal problems.
2022-23 DVSA Civil Legal Services Grantee Organization

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Benson Gardner


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Post From Community: Yoga & Climb | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
david snell
July 18, 2022
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.
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Join us for strength-building, beginner yoga at Riverside Park with our friends from Collective Flow MKE! Enjoy 30 minutes of practice, followed by beginners rock climbing with certified belayers.
For questions about this program, please contact Augie Rodenbeck at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org.
Registration is required for this event and will close 24 hours prior to event start time.
$18 – $24.

author: david snell


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July 18, 2022

author: Name *


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Post from the Community: City’s Public Artist in Residence Pilot Program to help address reckless driving in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Department of City Development
July 20, 2022
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 Milwaukee Arts Board approved the Public Artist in Residence (PAIR) pilot program to invest in the city’s cultural creators by leveraging the knowledge and practices of local artists to build a stronger Milwaukee.
Under the PAIR program, a local artist will be hired by a City of Milwaukee agency or department to develop, strategize, promote, and implement artist-driven solutions to complex civic challenges. The intended outcome is for the artist and City representatives to assess community needs, as well as develop and improve programs and initiatives through creative problem-solving.
For this pilot year, the soon-to-be-selected artist will be placed in the City of Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works (DPW) to develop innovative approaches that will help address reckless driving and create safer, stronger neighborhoods throughout the city.
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“This is an opportunity for new collaboration between Milwaukee’s artistic community and City government,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. “We know that creative solutions, access to resources, and a renewed commitment to partnerships will help address the challenges we face as a community, including our continued fight against reckless driving. The PAIR program will be another tool for the City to utilize in creating safer neighborhoods and improving the quality-of-life for Milwaukee residents and families.”
“In order to solve challenges like the dangers of reckless driving, we need to deploy innovative solutions from a variety of perspectives, including Milwaukee’s arts community. That’s what the PAIR program is all about,” said Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, who was recently elected the new Chair of the Milwaukee Arts Board. “I have worked with many local artists and creatives over the years in the 6 District, and they have the creative mindset to help address complex issues in our city. I am looking forward to welcoming Milwaukee’s first artist-in-residence this year so we can get to work.”
The PAIR program residency will take place over a minimum of one year, beginning with a three-month research phase where the artist will shadow City staff and learn about operations and initiatives. After the research phase, the artist will spend three months prototyping and field testing their project, followed by a five-month implementation and evaluation period. This program will also facilitate cross-sector collaboration with Milwaukee’s various BIDs, NIDs, and partner organizations to carry out new artist-driven efforts.
The City of Milwaukee has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire the artist in residence, who will ideally begin work in the fall. The City also issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to hire a liaison who will manage the relationship between the selected artist in residence and City departments. The deadline to apply is August 22, 2022. Learn more at www.milwaukee.gov/DCD/Projects/RFPs.


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July 19, 2022


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Research project seeks to find out why people of color are underrepresented in clinical trials | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
July 20, 2022
The history of medical research is rife with instances of specific groups of people underrepresented in clinical trials, people who have then had adverse effects to novel medications and devices.
That’s the premise underlying an effort by the Advocate Aurora Research Institute to research racial inequities in clinical trials.
Veronica Fitzpatrick, a research scientist with the Advocate Aurora Research Institute, is heading the project that started at the beginning of 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Fitzpatrick received $119,910 through Advocate Aurora Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund for the project, according to the Institute’s 2021 annual report. The project will analyze the racial makeup of COVID-19 clinical trials conducted at Advocate Aurora study sites.
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Clinical trials for new therapies and medical devices have historically failed to include people of color, women, children and seniors, according to the report.
“There may be an example of something working for, say, men that was assumed to work for women, and it didn’t,” Fitzpatrick said.
“Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the disparities in health care so that’s’ what we’re focusing on,” she said.
The Institute works to improve the health and quality of life of patients by translating scientific research into better care, prevention strategies and treatments.
“We do a lot of work in the health disparities area,” said Denise Angst, the vice president of academic research and strategic partnerships at Advocate Aurora. “Our patients and communities are our driving force.”
Eliminating these disparities has also been a focus on the federal level.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s page on clinical trials explains that “participants in clinical trials should represent the patients who will use the medical products. This is often not the case—people from racial and ethnic minority and other diverse groups are underrepresented in clinical research. This is a concern because people of different ages, races and ethnicities may react differently to medical products.”
Fitzpatrick wants to know why some people are underrepresented.
She and her team recently started working with local clinics to find that out through interviews and surveys. The project is compensating people for their time.
They are looking for people of color who are 18 or older and are interesting in helping the research team learn about barriers, hesitancy and potential solutions to participating in clinical trials.
“We are finding that people simply don’t know enough about clinical trials,” Fitzpatrick said. “Many people’s first time even hearing some of these medical terms were when the pandemic hit.”
At clinical trials at Aurora Health Care, volunteers help test treatments for cancer, cardiovascular disease and many other serious conditions.
Fitzpatrick said the goal of her research is to inform medical professionals so that they can better serve their patients and communities.
Once the research is complete, it’ll be shared internally and through the medical field to inform medical professionals and their work.
“We hope we can shine a light on what we’re already doing and what we can do better,” Fitzpatrick said.
If you’d like to participate in the project, you can text or call (312) 956-7067 or click here.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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Ron Smith
July 19, 2022

author: Ron Smith


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NNS Spotlight: How a program from the United Community Center empowers families to care for loved ones with memory loss | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
July 21, 2022
The United Community Center’s Fortaleciendo Familias program gives Latinx families a chance to care for Spanish-speaking loved ones who have memory loss.
Fortaleciendo Familias, a program from the Latino Geriatric Medical Center Memory Clinic at UCC, offers caregiver training for the family members of people with memory loss, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
The program, which translates to Strengthening Families, is free and provided in Spanish. Offering these services in Spanish is crucial as UCC is one of only a few local organizations to bridge the language barrier on the city’s South Side, said Ana Castaneda, elderly programs manager for the United Community Center.
“No matter what, you come to a point where you’re going to need help because taking care of people with memory loss is a lot of work,” Castaneda said.
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The program is split into four sessions.
Classes are offered four weeks at a time, with different days and hours during the week to offer the most availability to people.
Castaneda said the most important part of the program was education and preparation. She said helping people learn what programs they qualify for and getting them enrolled was critical, especially as participants try to balance the rest of their daily lives. Some programs can provide financial support and food security options to families.
Castaneda said documentation status can make it difficult for some families to qualify for programs as undocumented immigrants are not eligible for government assistance programs. So it’s important to highlight things they can take advantage of, like UCC’s Adult Day Center, Undocumented people can register for the program.
Castaneda said UCC also offers in-person youth training sessions and a “virtual dementia tour,” which allows potential caregivers to experience what it’s like to have dementia. This can be useful especially for youth who might not know what their relatives are going through.
“Until you get to actually understand what’s going on, it’s hard to relate to them,” Castaneda said.
Teaching family members how to interact with their loved ones who have memory loss is crucial, Castaneda said. If someone with memory loss gets irritated or argumentative, for instance, family members could need some patience.
“It’s no good to say ‘Mom, you told me this five times’—she doesn’t remember,” Castaneda said.
Adriana Gutiérrez, a 39-year-old living on 13 Street and Lapham Boulevard., sought the program out when her mother, Norma Saldivar, 69, was diagnosed with dementia.
“I joined (the program) to help out my mother with her illness, and later on I wanted to learn more about her illness,” Gutiérrez said.
Gutiérrez said the program provided her family with moral support and helped them to understand their emotions after the diagnosis.
“It is a sad thing to see the memory of your loved one leave,” Gutiérrez said.
While Gutiérrez sometimes wondered if what she was learning would be good for her mother, the training ultimately empowered her to help.
“I always noticed that I felt good in that moment and wanted the program to last throughout the day,” Gutiérrez said.
Castaneda encouraged those who have a family member with memory loss to join the program, especially if they plan on caring for them in the home.
“The name says it all,” Castaneda said. “We want to make your family stronger.”
Call 414-649-2808 or email Vanessa Anciani at vanciani@unitedcc.org.
The program is available to Milwaukee County residents and those living in Racine, Kenosha and Waukesha.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers a free training video on its website that covers topics such as diagnosis, response to symptoms and care for caregivers.
The Milwaukee County Aging and Disability Resource Center offers dementia care specialists. To contact them, call 414-289-6259 or email dcs@milwaukeecountywi.gov.

author: Matt Martinez


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Ron Smith
July 20, 2022


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5 things to know and do the weekend of July 22 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 22, 2022
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods is a survey of the exterior conditions of homes in order to demonstrate a need for improvements. Dominican Center is recruiting 20 neighbors to survey in the Amani neighborhood during August.
CirculateMKE is a creative entrepreneur market with local vendors selling items such as custom art, clothing, home goods, food and more. The market takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 at Alice’s Garden, located at 2136 N. 21st St.
Get a free backpack with school supplies, a free hot dog and browse Mama Mac’s Closet for clothing at this back to school fair. The fair runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 at South Division High School, located at 1515 W. Lapham Blvd. No registration needed.
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Full Circle Healing Farm invites you to share a meal featuring produce from its farm. The meal runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 at Tricklebee Cafe, located at 4424 W. North Ave. Tickets are $60 per person.
Raise funds for Sojourner Family Peace Center, which provides domestic violence prevention and intervention resources, by demolishing a car. A $20 donation gets you 60 seconds of car smashing. The event runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 at the south lot of Lincoln Warehouse, located at 2018 S. 1st St.

author: Sam Woods


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Ron Smith
July 21, 2022


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Post From Community: Date set for 37th Annual Black and White Ball Fundraiser | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Urban League
July 22, 2022
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 Greater Milwaukee Urban League Black and White Ball will take place Saturday, November 5, 2022, at the Wisconsin Center, 400 West Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI, 53203.
The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Greater Milwaukee Urban League (GMUL) and helps provide year-round support for programs serving youth and adults in the Milwaukee area. It also provides funding for GMUL’s advocacy work in health, homeownership, and civic engagement.
“Every year, hundreds of people improve their lives and their communities with the help and assistance of Greater Milwaukee Urban League,” said Dr. Eve M. Hall, president and CEO of GMUL. “Those who generously support the Black and White Ball through sponsorships and ticket purchases allow us to fulfill our goal of changing lives and empowering communities.”
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Greater Milwaukee Urban League is one of more than 90 affiliates of the National Urban League. Founded in 1919, GMUL is one of the oldest Urban League affiliates in the country. Greater Milwaukee Urban League offers more than a dozen programs ranging from educational support for students from kindergarten through college as well as employment, training, technology, and transportation programs for adults.
Individual ticket sales and sponsorships are now available at the Greater Milwaukee Urban League website. Event sponsorships are also available. Please contact Florida Perry Smith at FPerrySmith@tmul.org.
The Greater Milwaukee Urban League is an affiliate of The National Urban League. We lead through education and outreach, employment and empowerment, and advocacy to achieve economic vibrancy and equal access to all industries and disciplines that positions African Americans to create wealth and live a better quality of life. The Greater Milwaukee Urban League’s vision is to ensure that Wisconsin becomes a top 10 place for African Americans to live and thrive and where the greater Milwaukee area becomes a leader in education and socioeconomic inclusion. For more information, visit www.tmul.org and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and Instagram: @urbanleaguemke.

author: Greater Milwaukee Urban League


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unnamed.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
July 22, 2022

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Post From Community: MATC named a Metallica Scholars recipient to support ‘heavy metal’ education programs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Darryll Fortune, MATC
July 22, 2022
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 (MATC) was selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $100,000 from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, All Within My Hands (AWMH) to transform the future of students in and around Milwaukee.
The funds, announced July 2022, will help prospective students, recent high school graduates, and adults discover and explore hands-on careers to build a workforce pipeline for “heavy metal” fields including automotive/diesel tech, truck driving, computerized manufacturing, HVAC and welding tech diploma and certificate programs. Scholarships will be provided based on students’ financial needs up to $1,000 per student.
“The mission of Metallica’s All Within My Hands aligns perfectly with our mission, which is to offer an education that transforms lives, industry and community,” said MATC President Vicki J. Martin. “This funding will help students enroll in our high quality, in-demand programs that meet local employer and community needs —  leading to careers that provide family-supporting wages and better lives.”
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Funded by Metallica’s AWMH and led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the initiative is designed to directly support students while elevating the importance of career and technical education. Metallica continues to use its global platform to speak out on the dignity of professional trades and community colleges that prepare students.
“Our goal for the Metallica Scholars Initiative is to shine a light on workforce education and support the next generation of tradespeople,” said Pete Delgrosso, executive director, All Within My Hands. “With the addition of the 2022-23 Metallica Scholars program, our grants will reach over 2,000 men and women in 32 community colleges across 27 states. We are honored to support these students of all ages and backgrounds and look forward to growing the program even farther in the future.”
Direct impact on job and wage growth drives the Metallica Scholars Initiative. On average, students who complete the program see new job opportunities and increased salary potential up to three times higher than pre-program. Median wages for MATC’s heavy metal program graduates range from $40,000-$65,000 according to Wisconsin Hot Jobs data.
As a part of the program, 50 scholarships will be available starting this Fall and Spring semesters. Students interested in receiving the AWMH scholarship will be invited to apply through their academic advisors and Milwaukee Area Technical College Foundation Inc.
About All Within My Hands (AWMH)
Established by the members and management of Metallica in 2017 as a means to invest in the people and places that have supported the band, the Foundation is focused on supporting sustainable communities through workforce education, the fight against hunger and other critical local services. All expenses of the Foundation are covered by the band, the board and a few special friends so that 100% of donations go to the organizations it supports. AWMH is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
About American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the AACC delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students searching for the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s nearly 1,100 member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all.
About MATC
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 25,000 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: Darryll Fortune, MATC


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July 22, 2022


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Post From Community: STRYV365 announces partnership with Milwaukee-area schools to conduct academic study | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Catherine Knipstein, Athena Communications
July 22, 2022
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.
STRYV365, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit which equips youth affected by trauma and their caregivers with the skills, resilient mindset, and optimism to create the foundation for a successful future, is pleased to announce a partnership with local schools to conduct an academic study.
The research will be conducted at Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, the Milwaukee Academy of Science, the School District of Brown Deer, and the St. Francis School District. The purpose of the research project is to identify and describe the social and emotional needs of students in grades 5 through 9 and to evaluate the effectiveness of the STRYV365 Peak Team education and social and emotional support program, as well as the complementary “Brain Agents” video game. The Peak Team program is a series of interactive, strengths-based activities that build resiliency and support recovery from traumatic life experiences. STRYV365 accomplishes this through coaching, mentoring and education.
The research, which is being funded by STRYV365, will take place during the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year and will potentially involve 1,600 students. The findings of the study are anticipated in early 2024 and will provide evidence of the effectiveness of STRYV365 programs for schools and other youth-serving organizations.
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“According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than two thirds of children reported at least one traumatic event by the age of 16,” said Dr. Brandon Currie, PhD and CEO of STRYV365. “Trauma can have long-term damaging effects on youth, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Our youth are remarkably resilient, and our curriculum gives them the tools, attention, empathy, and positive support to stop the cycle and create a successful future for themselves. At STRYV365, we are honored by our partners’ willingness to engage in this academic study to rigorously evaluate our programming and the positive impact our work has in order to ultimately reach and help more young people.”
About STRYV365:
Led by Milwaukee-native Dr. Brandon Currie, STRYV365 helps youth and care providers break the cycle of trauma. At STRYV365, we believe that empathetic intervention provides an innovative way to overcome trauma and create a better future. That’s why we strive to be champions for youth and to provide a safe, fun, and engaging environment for youth to change their lives for the better. Learn more at https://www.stryv365.org/.


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Dwayne Burtin
July 22, 2022


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Pandemic support fading for 1 in 12 Wisconsinites who were food insecure | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Erin Gretzinger / Wisconsin Watch
July 24, 2022
Margaret Benton has held many roles since she moved to Wisconsin nearly 20 years ago.
With eight children — two living at home and others who live close to her house in Sun Prairie — Benton, 48, juggles motherhood with three jobs. She works as a cashier at T.J. Maxx, a bistro hostess at the East Madison Marriott Hotel and a social services specialist at Tellurian Behavioral Health.
Benton is also a student. After one more semester at Madison Area Technical College, she will have a liberal arts degree in human services with a minor in sociology.
And there’s another role she’s had to play that she’s never been ashamed to admit: FoodShare recipient.
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Benton is among the 951,000 individuals in Wisconsin who used FoodShare, Wisconsin’s food assistance program for low-income people, in 2021. When her FoodShare benefits fall short, Benton has used pantries to further stretch her family’s food supply.
Benton does not hesitate to ask charities and the government for help with this basic necessity — and she encourages others in need to use the help without feeling ashamed.
“I just never suffered from that (stigma) as an individual. Because I feel that this is my job as a parent to feed my kids,” Benton said.
Before the pandemic hit, 1 in 12 Wisconsinites were food insecure — meaning they couldn’t or were uncertain they could get the food they needed. Food insecurity is linked to children struggling more in school, worse health outcomes in all age groups and greater stress on families, according to the Wisconsin Food Security Project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
And the number of food-insecure Wisconsinites has likely increased as the impact of pandemic-related relief initiatives has begun to fade. The number of annual users of the state-federal FoodShare program grew by more than 100,000 from 2019 to 2021. Researchers aren’t certain about the long-term fallout, but national estimates suggest food insecurity during the early months of the pandemic was greater than any point in the last quarter-century.
Beyond Hunger is a new Wisconsin Watch series covering the challenges faced by many Wisconsinites in a state that exports three times as much food as it consumes. The series examines the history of food assistance, why Wisconsin residents lack easy access to government programs and explores efforts to curb food waste and reduce scarcity in the state’s food deserts.
The series also will explore a variety of solutions in the state, ranging from grow-your-own efforts, pandemic-related provisions that provided extra benefits, free school meals for all students and other policies.
Anti-hunger advocates and people using pandemic programs had hoped the changes would stick — but some of the provisions have already expired. In their absence, long-term and patchwork remedies endure, including stores on wheels, subsidies to bring grocery stores to food deserts and recovery programs that collect edible food headed for the dumpster for distribution to people in need.
Meanwhile, government funding for Wisconsin’s FoodShare program is the highest it’s been in a decade. That has sparked concerns from legislative Republicans that the state is spending too much and possibly disincentivizing work at a time when Wisconsin is grappling with a shortage of labor.
Wisconsin Food Security Project coordinator Judi Bartfeld said food security rests on four central pillars: financial security; vibrant, affordable food systems; robust federal nutrition and assistance programs; and strong safety nets provided by emergency or charitable food networks.
Food insecurity is a “bigger concept than just hunger,” Bartfeld said.
“It’s really a continuum,” she said. “At the one end, you have people who are anxious and uncertain about whether they’re going to get the food they need, whether they can put food on the table. At the extreme end of the spectrum, you have households that are not feeding their kids for a whole day.”
Hunger is not evenly distributed — especially in Wisconsin. While households in the state report less food insecurity on average, about 1 in 5 children live in food-insecure households in Wisconsin, which is higher than the national average.
At 32.6%, food insecurity for Black households in Wisconsin is nearly five times the rate of white households — and double the rate of the national average — making it one of the largest disparities in the country. Barfeld described the disparity as “quite stunning.”
Other factors can compound the problem, including location. According to 2015 numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 10% of Wisconsinites live in regions meeting the characteristics of a food desert. These are low-income or rural areas where people don’t have easy access to groceries. Lack of transportation can further intensify the challenges of living in a food desert.
Wisconsin Watch found the system of state-federal food assistance has stringent income requirements and frequent income reporting requirements that make maintaining benefits difficult for many recipients.
“Being on FoodShare, there are a lot of limits. There’s embarrassment. There’s always a mindset of (it’s) not enough,” Benton said.
Today, 18% of those who qualify for the federal-state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program don’t participate, with particularly low rates of participation among the working poor.
Rebecca McAtee, who formerly ran Wisconsin’s FoodShare program, said she would be “challenged” to fill out the application and keep up with income reporting requirements. The system, she added, can be “extremely punitive.”
“If they (a recipient) make a mistake … that gets deducted from that person’s future benefits,” McAtee explained. “There’s no room for error.”
FoodShare recipient Elizabeth Blume of Madison said she once lost all of her benefits after earning $6 above the eligibility limit one month.
Said Benton: “There’s lots of roadblocks that will keep you from being successful. I want to get off FoodShare, but you keep telling me I can’t make more money. How does this work?”
FoodShare has expanded benefits and worked to reduce stigma over the years, but lawmakers in Wisconsin continued to add new requirements and restrictions — until the pandemic hit.
As the number of economic threats grew during the first few months of the pandemic, the federal and state governments responded with a slew of policies to alleviate food insecurity as more people used assistance and emergency relief programs for the first time.
FoodShare eased several restrictions and boosted the amount of benefits families could obtain, giving all eligible families the highest benefit allotment possible — up to $459 a month for a family of two earning up to $34,800 a year — and suspending work requirements that had applied to some childless adults.
The pandemic also prompted the federal government to waive income eligibility requirements for school meals. That allowed all school districts in Wisconsin to offer free meals.
Other policy innovations like stimulus checks, greater access to unemployment insurance, eviction moratoriums and child tax credits supported financial stability. Overall, Bartfeld said the “robust” policy response to the pandemic led to measurable increases in food security —  and it’s changing the way some people think about fighting hunger.
“By really going all in on trying to combat risk, we were able to actually move the needle and prevent some of the hardships that might have happened,” Bartfeld said.
An 2021 analysis conducted by the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers found the implementation of federal income support systems early during the pandemic correlated with improvements in food security — and now that some of those supports have lapsed, hunger rates are climbing once again.
But making these changes permanent fixtures of the food assistance system is an uphill battle. With the state unemployment rate at historic lows, Wisconsin Republicans want to bring back the work eligibility requirements for FoodShare.
And while free school meals have garnered statewide support, the well-publicized pushback against free meals in Waukesha highlights the complicated nature of food-related politics.
“Food is an apolitical thing. Feeding kids is an apolitical thing,” said Dave Dringenburg, a parent of two children in the Waukesha School District. “There’s no real reason why it needed to become what it was.”
At the most basic level, experts and advocates say the pandemic heightened awareness of the conditions food-insecure Wisconsinites experience. As many people lost their jobs, took pay cuts or stayed home to watch kids and other family members, Feeding America estimates that statewide, 40% of people relying on its emergency food assistance network did so for the first time during the pandemic.
For Benton, some of the gut-wrenching worry about where she was going to get food no longer weighs on her mind like it did when her children were young. She is more financially stable and receives just $23 a month in FoodShare benefits for her 16-year-old daughter. But she continues to save canned goods because she “never know(s) what might happen.”
“I guess someone who is in a different position or a different living standard won’t quite understand it.”
If you need more information about food access — or have a tip for a follow up story, email us at foodinsecurity@wisconsinwatch.org. Or you can text the phrase WisFood to the number 73224. We’ll follow up as soon as possible, usually within 48 hours.
University of Wisconsin-Madison students Rachel Clark, Maddie Bergstrom, Joe States, Sam Watson, Lauryn Azu, Charlie Hildebrand, Maiah O’Rourke, Joey Prestley, Lydia Slattery and Riley Sumner contributed to this report.

author: Erin Gretzinger / Wisconsin Watch


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Dwayne Burtin
July 22, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
July 22, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
July 22, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
July 22, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
July 22, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
July 22, 2022


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: July 25 to July 29 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 25, 2022
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
A real conversation about pregnancy prevention planning and what resources are available to support your choices. This conversation for Black people runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 25 at Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, located at 2136 N. 21st St.
COA Youth & Family Centers’ Skyline Music Series is a weekly concert every Tuesday through Aug. 23. This week’s show features the Extra Crispy Brass Band playing New Orleans-style brass. The set runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26 at Kilbourn-Kadish Park, located at 750 E. North Ave. Full summer schedule here.
Queer Roots Space is a monthly opportunity for Hmong LGBTQ+ people to connect and share stories. This month’s meeting is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28 at 3030 W. Highland Blvd.
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MCTS is hiring bus drivers starting at $20.77 an hour and “A” mechanics starting at $29.71 an hour. Learn more about these opportunities here.
Souls to the Polls seeks volunteer to drive people to the polls for early voting from Tuesday, July 26 to Saturday, Aug. 6 and on Election Day Aug. 9. If you are interested, call Norma Balentine at 414-383-1821 or fill out an online form.


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Ron Smith
July 24, 2022


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Eligible families will get $391 to cover summer food costs for kids | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 26, 2022
Wisconsin has been approved to issue a one-time payment of $391 to parents of children in child care who will receive FoodShare this summer. Parents who have children in the free lunch and breakfast program at their school or kids who were enrolled last school year also are eligible.
The payments are part of the Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer, P-EBT, program, which aims to support parents buying food for children over the summer while schools are closed and free school meals are not provided.
This program is technically different from the School-age P-EBT and Pre-6 P-EBT programs, which provide money to eligible parents whose children are not receiving free meals from school or child care due to COVID-19.
Eligible parents should expect to receive the full $391 on Aug. 20 either on their QUEST card or a P-EBT card they previously received. Or they will receive it in the mail if this is the first time they have been eligible for P-EBT.
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Parents are eligible to receive the benefit if any of the following are true:
Parents of children who attend any MPS school or have kids enrolled at most private and charter schools within Milwaukee are eligible to receive free school meals through the Community Eligibility Provision.
Parents with kids who get free meals at school sites, such as MPS’ summer meal sites, are still eligible to receive summer P-EBT should they meet the eligibility requirements above.
Parents with questions should contact the P-EBT Support Team at 1-833-431-2224 or PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov.


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Ron Smith
July 25, 2022


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Gardening in Urban Spaces | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
david snell
July 27, 2022
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.
Menomonee Valley
(For families) Spend an evening getting your hands dirty in the raised-bed gardens at Menomonee Valley. With a green thumb guide from the UEC, you’ll learn about garden bed care, help tend the gardens, and enjoy some of the summer gifts from the gardens themselves. Learn the skills to tend your own container garden in the future.
Free – $5. See website.
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For questions about this program, please contact Augie Rodenbeck at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org.
Registration is required for this event and will close 24 hours prior to event start time.


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July 19, 2022


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Post From Community: Canoe & Brew | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
david snell
July 27, 2022
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 adults 21+) Meet us at the Rowing Club (1990 N. Commerce St) to explore the Milwaukee River from a canoe with a guide from the Urban Ecology Center. Beginners to experienced paddlers are invited to join us for a relaxing paddle followed by a cheers to a great paddle at Lakefront Brewery! Price includes one beverage. BONUS: Mondays at Lakefront Brewery are “Halfy-Hour”: buy one beer, get one 1/2 off!
For questions about this program, please contact Augie Rodenbeck at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org.
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Registration is required for this event.


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292312612_10160343828258698_48241053194733133_n.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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July 19, 2022


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Post From Community: Molson Coors expands partnership with i.c.stars, jumpstarting technology careers for young adults in Chicago and Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molson Coors
July 27, 2022
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.
Continuing its commitment to empowering the next generation of diverse leaders and investing in emerging technologies, Molson Coors is expanding its partnership with Inner-City Computer Stars (i.c.stars) to reach multiple cities in one cycle. For the first time ever, the program took on a regional approach to solicit unique ideas for a new innovation space in the Molson Coors’ Chicago and Milwaukee corporate offices. Earlier this month, i.c.stars alumni in Chicago and Milwaukee competed in small groups to present their winning idea which all embraced cutting-edge technologies. The winning team was announced on July 15 and included alumni students Angel Delgado and Khalil Hall.
“Molson Coors was pleased to provide an opportunity to the remarkable i.c.stars alumni to make a highly visible and lasting impact on our corporate offices,” said Darrin Vohs, global chief information officer for Molson Coors. “We are proud to partner with i.c.stars in support of their efforts to develop future leaders and create a diverse tech industry. By investing in these young people and providing them with a robust technological training program at no cost, i.c.stars is helping them to transform their futures – and are also furthering the development of a workforce skilled in information technology.”
The winning team presented a range of creative ideas to elevate the company’s future vision of operating a dedicated, interactive and state-of-the-art space that includes innovation resources and programming to spur the recognition and growth of emerging tech. Their insightful recommendations involved unique amenities to facilitate ideation, collaboration and networking.
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Molson Coors has been partnering with i.c.stars since 2020 to identify, train and hire young adults who demonstrate extraordinary potential for success and impact in their communities. Upon completion of a robust 16-week training program, Molson Coors, along with other i.c.stars’ corporate partners, provides i.c.stars program graduates with on-the-job experience, mentorship and professional networks needed to jumpstart their careers in technology. Molson Coors has hired five graduates of the program into IT roles.
“The Molson Coors relationship is a valued partnership that has been successful due to an alignment of goals and passion for seeing our communities thrive and flourish,” said Blanca Gonzales, executive director of i.c.stars Milwaukee. “We are proud to expand our partnership with Molson Coors to support the next generation of tech leaders.”
The program, which first started in Chicago more than 20 years ago, is free and provides a weekly stipend and laptop to participants. Since the program was brought to Milwaukee in 2018, it has trained nearly 200 individuals and is currently training its tenth cohorts.
In addition to partnering with i.c.stars, Molson Coors invests in emerging technologies and ongoing tech initiatives to better its practices, develop innovative solutions and lift the communities it serves. For more information on Molson Coors, visit www.molsoncoors.com.
About Molson Coors
For more than two centuries, Molson Coors has been brewing beverages that unite people to celebrate all life’s moments. From Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Carling, and Staropramen to Coors Banquet, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blue Moon LightSky, Vizzy, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Creemore Springs, Hop Valley and more, Molson Coors produces many beloved and iconic beer brands. While the company’s history is rooted in beer, Molson Coors offers a modern portfolio that expands beyond the beer aisle as well. Our ESG strategy is focused on People and Planet with a strong commitment to raising industry standards and leaving a positive imprint on our employees, consumers, communities and the environment. To learn more about Molson Coors Beverage Company, visit molsoncoors.com, MolsonCoorsOurImprint.com or on Twitter through @MolsonCoors.
About i.c.stars
Inner-City Computer Stars (i.c.stars) is an educational and workforce development organization offering technology training, leadership development, and career readiness support to inner-city young adults. The curriculum aligns with workforce projections, leading to credentials that employers value. It also helps companies fill the growing number of tech positions while addressing the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the tech sector. i.c.stars nurtures leaders who drive change in their neighborhoods, support the economy, and build stronger communities. Learn more at icstars.org.
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author: Molson Coors


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Post From Community: Riverside Park Exploration Social | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
David Snell
July 27, 2022
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.
Join us for an open house of connections, curiosity, and family fun at Riverside Park. Come inside to meet our staff and native animals as you explore the community center. Exploration and wonder awaits in Riverside Park; explore the trails and wildlife in one of Milwaukee County’s most beloved and historic parks.
All scheduled activities will be first come, first served. Sign up upon arrival.
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Open Climb – 10:00am-12:00pm
Push your limits on the 40 foot climbing wall. Cheer on friends and neighbors as they scale the tower. For ages 8 and up. Close toed shoes and adventurous spirit required.
Guided Hikes – 12:00-2:00pm
Hike the winding trails of Riverside Park and the Milwaukee River Greenway. We’ll lead you through the most treasured areas of the woods and stop to smell the flowers in the prairie.
And best of all, It Is Free!
For any additional questions about this program, please contact Riverside Park Branch Manager, Chris Steinkamp at csteinkamp@urbanecologycenter.org. or phone 414-964-8505.
Registration is NOT required for this event.

author: David Snell


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July 18, 2022


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Post From Community: Sustainable Spa Night | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
david snell
July 27, 2022
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.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Washington Park
(For adults & teens) Join us in your comfy evening lounge wear for a sustainable spa night at Washington Park. Learn how to mix ingredients that are good for your skin and energy as well as safe for the environment. We’ll relax with hot tea as we make sugar scrub, a facemask, and lotions with inspirations and scents from nature. Space is limited- pre-registration required.
$10  – $15. See website.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
For questions about this program, please contact Augie Rodenbeck at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org.
Registration is required for this event and will close 24 hours prior to event start time.


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July 19, 2022


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Post From Community: Wisconsin residents invited to free virtual Alzheimer’s Educational Conference on August 24 sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sandy Silverstein
July 27, 2022
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 Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Wisconsin residents on Wednesday, August 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST as part of its 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health and caregiving experts. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour.
“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you are a caregiver or just want to learn more, you can participate in this free virtual conference from the comfort of your home or office.”
Sessions during the AFA virtual conference will include:
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For more information or to register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who cannot participate in the virtual conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484 or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue and white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. The web chat feature is available in more than 90 languages.
About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, the National Memory Screening Program, educational conferences and materials, and “AFA Partners in Care” dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  AFA has earned Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating for seven consecutive years.

author: Sandy Silverstein


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Public awareness campaign seeks to increase vaccination rates among young children and adults 65 and older | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
July 27, 2022
Local social media influencers and community members have partnered with the Milwaukee County Public Health Collaborative, or MCPHC, to create a public awareness campaign about COVID-19 vaccinations.
The two-part public awareness campaign seeks to increase vaccination rates among young children and adults 65 and older. It focuses on Milwaukee’s lowest-vaccinated areas, including ZIP codes 53206, 53216, 53218 and 53210, which are all on the North Side.
The “Verified Voices”  campaign targets parents of young children and addresses the power of social media and misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines and children. It encourages people to find resources they trust when making decisions about their children’s vaccinations, including health care providers.
“Eligibility for children six months and older to get the vaccine recently opened up and we know parents have questions,” said Aziz Abdullah the co-founder of InPower, a marketing agency that is partnering with the campaign. “We want to make sure they know and understand their options.”
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Four influencers, Kennaye Lewis, a recent winner of Netflix’s “Floor is Lava”;  DJ The Barber, a local celebrity barber; OG Tweezy, a community leader and event promoter; and It’s Murby, a makeup artist and entrepreneur, assisted in that campaign.
“Social media can be a helpful tool for finding information regarding your health as long as you are making sure the pages and sources are credible,” said Lewis. “Using .gov sites is always helpful, and if you want to be sure, going straight to your doctor with questions is best.”
The “Boosted & Blessed” campaign focuses on people ages 65 and older and highlights the beauty of life as an older adult and the blessings worth protecting by being boosted. It features four residents who share insights into their life stories and reasons for “feeling blessed” and “being boosted.”
Community members from all walks of life participated in the campaign.
Debra Lewis is the gift shop manager and participant advocate at Milwaukee County’s Clinton Rose Senior Center. Valley Hollins and Gwen Washington are instructors and participants with SilverSneakers, a fitness and wellness program for seniors. Henry Lofton and Justin Roby are a local grandfather and grandson connected through gardening and family heritage. And Muhammad Abdullah is a long-standing community activist and organizer.
“As older people, we have pre-existing health conditions, so I wanted to encourage my peers to get boosted,” said Washington. “I hopeful that we can lower these numbers and help our community.”
The campaigns include 19 billboards, social media content and work with grassroots organizations to get handouts to people. And there are ads on buses, TV and radio.
The campaigns are supported by HealthyMKE.com, a local, multicultural health information initiative that’s funded by a Wisconsin Department of Health Services Vaccine Community Outreach 2.0 grant.
“These campaigns are built by the community for the community in collaboration with our public health leaders,” said Katie Lepak, project officer with the MCPHC, which works to coordinate and elevate a unified public health system in collaboration with key partners in Milwaukee County.
“We’re proud of its authenticity and the local village that came together to make sure our messengers and messages resonate with our diverse audiences and address the questions and misinformation that persist around COVID-19 vaccination,” Lepak said.
For more information
For more information on the campaigns, you can look here. For more information on vaccines, you can look here.


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Ron Smith
July 26, 2022


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FoodShare members receive 50% discount on fresh produce at Outpost through 2023 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 28, 2022
FoodShare members can get a 50% discount on fresh fruits and vegetables at Outpost Natural Foods thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture secured by Outpost and the Hunger Task Force.
The program is called “Produce to the People.” To receive the discount on produce, ask for the discount before paying, show your Quest EBT Card and sign the discount scan voucher. The discount will apply to fresh fruits and vegetables.
The grant comes from the federal government’s Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, or GusNIP, which is a set of grant programs aimed at evaluating best strategies for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in low-income populations.
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Outpost reports that as of July 7, the grant money had supported 3,409 transactions and saved FoodShare members $35,738 since the program began in early April. FoodShare helps low-income people buy food.
The discount is available at Outpost’s four Milwaukee-area locations.
The grant funding the program will continue through 2023, during which Hunger Task Force said it will collect data on the program’s use to determine if the program successfully reached low-income populations and is replicable through other partners.
“Beyond the grant period, our goal is to continue providing incentive discounts on fresh produce and healthy foods through a combination of private and public support,” said Shahree Douglas, Hunger Task Force spokesperson.
Dollars from this grant also funds the Hunger Task Force’s Mobile Market, a “grocery store on wheels” operating in Milwaukee County.
Another program, Milwaukee Market Match, doubles the amount FoodShare participants spend at farmers markets up to $20 per day.


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Ron Smith
July 27, 2022


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5 things to know and do the weekend of July 29 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 29, 2022
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Join the Amani Youth Council and Friends of Moody Park for games, sports and food for $1 from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, July 29 at Moody Park, located at 2201 W. Auer Ave. There will also be another Fun Friday on Friday, Aug. 12.
Green Talks is a recurring series of discussions around how the environment affects our health, with opportunities for advocacy and art-making. This week’s talk runs from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 29 at Plazita Verde, located at 1608 W. Forest Home Ave.
Neighbors around Pulaski Park are invited to Kinnickinnic River Neighbors in Action’s annual summer picnic. Enjoy nachos, family-friendly games, music and more from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30 at the Pulaski Park pavilion at 2677 S. 16th St.
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New Hope Youth and Family Center hosts this family-friendly open house and block party, complete with community resources, face painting, free food, vendors, bounce house, a DJ and more. The party starts at noon Saturday, July 30 at New Hope Youth and Family Center, located at 3248 W. Brown Ave.
Camp ‘Xhongo’ Peace Retreat is an annual camping trip for men and boys ages 7 and older, complete with fishing, games and swimming, stargazing and even a push-up contest. This will be the camp’s 26th year when campers set off for the weekend on Aug. 12. However, you can help support the camping trip through a fundraiser from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30 at Coffee Makes You Black, located at 2803 N. Teutonia Ave.
Get school supplies, backpacks, required vaccinations (no insurance needed,) lead level testing for children ages 1 through 6, health screenings for children and adults from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 29 at the Fiserv Forum and Deer District, located at 1111 Vel. R Phillips Ave.


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Ron Smith
July 28, 2022


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UPDATE: Public Allies CEO resigns after backlash to the terminations of 30 staffers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
July 29, 2022
Editor’s note: NNS reporter Sam Woods is an alumnus of the Public Allies Milwaukee apprenticeship program.
Jaime Uzeta has resigned as CEO of Public Allies after backlash from a recent “restructuring” that led to the terminations of 30 staffers, according to a statement from the Public Allies Board of Directors on Wednesday.
The staffers were laid off July 7, which alumni — organized under the moniker Save Public Allies — said was in retaliation for “openly voicing concerns about Uzeta’s leadership and negligent oversight of operations and programs.”
Uzeta said in a July 11 statement that the terminated staff would receive a severance package “above industry standard” but did not respond to a request for further details.
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Public Allies is an AmeriCorps program that places people, usually 30 years old or younger, in apprenticeship programs with nonprofits to develop community-building skills. Alumni of the program locally include Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley; artist and educator LaShawndra Vernon; activist Elle Halo; and entrepreneur Tonda Thompson.
Within 24 hours of the layoffs, the website savepublicallies.org was created and issued four demands, including Uzeta’s resignation. More than 900 Public Allies alumni nationwide, more than 300 in Wisconsin, have signed on to the demands, which also include rescinding the layoffs, acknowledging the harm caused “to primarily BIPOC staff and allies” and appointing new board members.
In its statement to Public Allies alumni announcing Uzeta’s resignation, the board did not state whether it will meet Save Public Allies’ three other demands. But the board did say that it is “committed to sharing what we are learning and decisions we are making as we do the work to heal and repair our network of valued staff, Allies, alumni and partners.”
Shavonda Sisson is an alumnus of the Public Allies Milwaukee apprenticeship program and a former staff member of Public Allies Milwaukee for five years who left shortly before the layoffs. She said the last three weeks have been a mix of emotions, including disbelief, anger, “a lot of grief,” pride and even moments of joy toward the unified response to the terminations.
Sisson noted that the local effect of the organization’s restructuring plan goes beyond the more than 30 staffers who were terminated.
Each year, the program staffs around 40 people in apprenticeships within Milwaukee nonprofits to provide services such as youth engagement, policy development, volunteer coordination and social services.
With staff suddenly let go, Sisson said that a program that nearly 40 Milwaukee nonprofits and organizations tap into annually was placed in jeopardy.
While acknowledging that harm had been done to the program and the people involved in it, Sisson said she hopes board members can move forward in good faith.
“It’s OK to say ‘I messed up.’ That’s a mark of good leadership,” she said.
Thompson participated in the Public Allies Milwaukee apprenticeship program in 2015 and 2016 and has gone on to build a successful career as an entrepreneur. She also hosted an apprenticeship member, or “Ally,” during the 2021-’22 apprenticeship year. The Ally worked on marketing and communications to support the work of the National Coalition for Healthy Black Families, or NCHBF, one of Thompson’s ventures.
She credits Public Allies for making her entrepreneurial success possible, starting with her work organizing “HaRUNbee,” a family-friendly 5K that supports the mission of the NCHBF.  Thompson created the 5K when she was an Ally at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
She compared her feelings over the last three weeks to “watching someone very close to you go through a breakup,” but she’s encouraged by the way Public Allies alumni rallied around a common goal and attained it.
“This is a family… and they messed with the wrong cousins,” Thompson said, laughing. “We still have a lot of work to do, but I’m really proud to be a Public Ally.”
In case you missed it: Public Allies CEO lays off employees, citing ‘restructuring’ needs, but alumni call move retaliation


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17822210978_ff95edfbb8_k-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
July 28, 2022


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Youths can learn about wellness, tech, entrepreneurship and leadership at STEAM & Dream summit | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
July 29, 2022
A day-long summit for youths to learn about wellness, tech, entrepreneurship and leadership is coming to Milwaukee on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts.
The STEAM & Dream MKE Adult and Youth Summit seeks to engage youths ages 12-17 and adults with the tools to pursue their dreams in technology and entrepreneurship. It will be filled with different workshops centered around STEAM topics. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.
There will also be a hip-hop yoga class for middle schoolers and a fireside chat for high school students and adults with “Earn Your Leisure,” a podcast hosted by Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, that gives financial views into the entertainment and sports industries and highlights the backstories of entrepreneurs.
Kenge Adams, an officer with the Sherman Phoenix Foundation, one of the partnering groups, said organizers want youths to leave the summit dreaming large “and feeling like they have the resources to make their dreams a reality.”
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STEAM & Dream is a collaboration of Black-led community-based organizations working to elevate the next generation of tech leaders and create opportunities for Black youths to explore and innovate in STEM – science, tech, engineering and math. The program, funded by American Family Insurance, was created to aid K-12 students and young adults in discovering career fields in business and tech.
Partners include Connect Business Consulting, Sherman Phoenix, Milky Way Tech Hub, Journey House, Young Enterprising Society, Black on Black Education, Earn Your Leisure, Discovery World, Grateful Girls, PerceptForm, Latinos in Tech, Thee Tailored Life, Chandra Cooper, and Milwaukee Film.
“As we’re being catalyzed to a more tech-centric world, communities of color are often overlooked in conversations and advancements brought to other communities,” organizers said in a news release.
“STEAM & Dream functions to educate and prepare Black communities and historically underserved communities for careers in tech and strives to close technology and equity gaps for urban communities propelling them into the future of tech.”
For more information
You can register for the free event here.


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Ron Smith
July 28, 2022


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5 things to know and do this week in Milwaukee: Aug. 1 to Aug. 5 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
August 1, 2022
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.
Registration for MPS Drive opens at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2. This is an opportunity for MPS students ages 15 to 17½-years-old to get affordable driver’s education. More information here.
Learn more about the city budget and how to provide public comment when politicians present the budget in the fall. The workshop is in Spanish and English from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 at Mision Cristiana Bethel, located at 1601 S. 33rd St. More information here.
Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center will be hosting a health fair with health screenings, COVID-19 vaccines and food sampling from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4 outside the center at 930 W. Historic Mitchell St.
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“Malcolm X,” the story of the civil rights leader of the same name, will be playing at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5 at 2620 W. Center St. The event is free.
Start-up entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to apply to Rev-Up MKE, an annual pitch competition. Accepted businesses receive business development training and the opportunity to pitch for funding. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5. In case you missed it: Business class is in session: Catching up with previous Rev-Up MKE winners and finalists

created: August 1, 2022


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16878179440_fb5a30fd73_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
July 31, 2022


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How one program gives new and expecting fathers the tools they need to support their families | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
August 2, 2022
Angelo Jackson, a 21-year-old living on North Teutonia Avenue and West Silver Spring Drive, is expecting his first child in September.
He’s hoping to learn how to be a good father and has set a goal: to do everything right for his baby.
For Jackson, his new child carries an added significance: He wants to honor his mother-in-law and brother-in-law who always wanted him to be a father but are no longer around to see it.
“I look at them like they blessed us with this baby,” Jackson said. “They always wanted it to happen, so they gave us this baby – and we’re going to push toward doing what’s right for this baby.”
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For some new and expecting fathers, the light at the end of the tunnel can seem distant and the choices made can be critical. One program hosted each week in the basement of Ebenezer Church of God In Christ, 3132 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, has expanded to give dads guidance and embrace a new generation of kids.
The Blanket of Love program is an Ascension Wisconsin program that began in 2004, started by community-health and parish nurse Julia Means to reduce infant mortality. The program is meant to provide support to new and expecting mothers to help prevent premature births and ensure healthy pregnancies.
A new arm of the program, called Blanket of Love Dads, or BOLD, was recently formed with help from Marques Hogans. Sr., project manager for the BUILD Sherman Park Ascension Wisconsin program, and Flenard Burnham, community outreach specialist with Milwaukee County Healthy Start.
“Fathers have a lot to do with the health of their children,” Means said during a BOLD session earlier this year to a group of eight participants. “We need your help to have your child reach their first birthday.”
On Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., participants gather to have open discussions about the role and responsibilities of fathers. At one session, they spent time defining the attributes of a good father and the need to provide. Burnham said the group sessions allowed participants to have common questions answered and find out more about their shared experiences.
Some of the typical questions relate to pregnancy and ways that they can help make expectant mothers more comfortable during the process.
“It’s just like being in school,” Burnham said. “They got the same question on their mind, but they just don’t open their mouth and ask that question. Then, once the conversation starts, it flows from here to there, and everybody’s going through something similar.”
Participants also had a chance to ask Means, a registered nurse, medical questions about pregnancy and what to watch out for. Means said that a dedicated team is available as a resource to those in the program at any time to voice their concerns.
Hogans said in the session that one of the biggest goals is to help fathers prepare for doctor visits and to be able to advocate and participate in the appointments.
Burnham and Hogans, both fathers, use their own experiences to help illustrate concepts of fatherhood. The lessons taught to participants are a mix of their stories and a curriculum from Ascension based around family values.
The experience can be especially important for those who have not consistently had father figures as role models, Burnham said.
Many discussions revolve around decisions and consequences.
“You have to make these decisions, you have to deal with your decisions,” Burnham said at one session. “This baby did not choose to come into this world. Now that this baby’s here, what are you going to do? And how you going to do what you need to do? You can keep playing around, but this baby is going to be here.”
Text “BOLD” to 833-524-1311 to receive a registration link.
You can also contact Ascension’s Office of Community Services at 414-465-4587 or email communityserviceswi@ascension.org if you have additional questions.
You can also contact Flenard Burnham at 414-286-8586.

created: August 2, 2022


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51972819612_8bcaff4742_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
August 1, 2022


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Post From Community: Brenda K Starr to perform at Puerto Rican Family Festival | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Victor Huyke
August 2, 2022
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 Puerto Rican Family Festival is proud to announce the Salsa singer Brenda K Starr will perform at the 9th Annual Puerto Rican Family Festival Sunday, August 7, 2022. The festival is Wisconsin’s only festival celebrating the rich Puerto Rican culture and heritage.
Brenda K Starr is known as a famous Pop Star in the 1980s for her freestyle music, R&B, and dance. In recent years, she has been singing Salsa music. In 2002, she had a number one hit in the Tropical Charts “Por Ese Hombre” (with Tito Nieves and Víctor Manuelle). The song was nominated in 2002: for the Latin Grammy Awards for “Best Salsa Single.” In 2006, she was nominated for Billboard Latin Music Awards “Best Salsa Single” for “Tu Eres.”
“We are grateful to our sponsor Sabor Tropical and Caliente Restaurant for their gracious support and help to bring Brenda K Starr to the 9th Annual Puerto Rican Family Festival. I look forward to having Ms. Starr perform at our event,” said Yussef Morales, director and founder of the festival. “We have come a long way from humble beginnings under the 35th Street Viaduct more than nine years ago to host the largest Puerto Rican Family Festival in Wisconsin. I’m very proud and grateful to all the people who have held us throughout the years.”
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The Puerto Rican Family Festival will be held at Jackson Park in Milwaukee on August 7, 2022, from 11 am to 7 pm. The festival features traditional music, dance, and food: a Salsa and Merengue Dance Contest, a Domino Contest, and Baseball Contest. The festival is free and open to the public, and alcohol-free.
“This year, we will not have the car show. Though the car show is very popular, we don’t have the space for the car show this year at the new location,” said Victor Huyke, president of the festival.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be at the festival as additional law enforcement. The DNR has more jurisdiction in impounding the ATVs and dirt bikes at the park. Festival organizers ask people not to bring ATVs, scooters, and dirt bikes to the park. “Many of our elderly and children are at the festival; we don’t want anyone to get hurt in an accident because of these vehicles,” said Huyke.
In addition, this year, there will be Motorcycle Police officers patrolling the festival and on the street. In the past, too much traffic has been a concern near the festival.
This year the Motorcycle Patrol will direct traffic and enforce traffic laws. This will help alleviate the traffic problems and prevent groups from assembling on street corners and blocking traffic: police, sheriffs, and other law enforcement plan to confiscate cars if you violate traffic laws.
The festival is looking for volunteers to help with various duties. If you are interested in volunteering, please call El Conquistador Latino Newspaper at 414-383-1000.
“We want everyone to enjoy themselves. We are asking for everyone’s help in making the festival safe and fun for everyone,” said Morales.

author: Victor Huyke


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Post From Community: Canoeing for Beginners at Washington Park | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
David Snell
August 2, 2022
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.
Saturday, August 13, 2022
10:00 AM – 12:00 p.m.
Washington Park
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(For families) Interested in paddling but just trying to learn the basics? The UEC has you covered! Join us for a guided session to learn a C stroke, J stroke and back paddle as you maneuver a canoe across the Washington Park Lagoon. Space limited, pre-registration is required.
For questions about this program, please contact Augie Rodenbeck at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org.
Registration is required for this event and will close 24 hours prior to event start time.
$9 – $12. See website.


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July 21, 2022


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Post From Community: North Side pop-up farmers markets — every Tuesday in August from 3:30-6:30 p.m. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sarah Bregant
August 2, 2022
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 (NWSCDC) is bringing our North Side Pop-up Farmers Market series back for the third annual season from 3:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday in August at the following locations:
We’ve got local vendors selling a variety of fresh veggies, juices, plants, candles, salsa, flowers, popcorn, children’s books, clothing, body care products, and more!
Our flyer includes a $3 coupon good for any product at the market, plus we’ve got raffle prizes each week. We aim to host the markets rain or shine but will cancel in the event of heavy rain or severe weather. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for cancellation updates.
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We proudly accept SNAP/EBT.
Hope to see you there!
Questions can be directed to Sarah Bregant at sarah.b@nwscdc.org or 414-444-8200 x.8104

author: Sarah Bregant


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markets.JPG | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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July 27, 2022


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Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee helps residents gain pardons | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 3, 2022
Veronda Jackson, 39, was on a plane back from picking up her daughter from college when she opened an email that immediately brought her to tears.
The message was from Gov. Tony Evers’ office, informing her that she had been granted a pardon.
“I made a mistake when I was younger but look at how God is redeeming me,” she remembers telling her daughter. “Had I not gone through that situation I don’t think I would have the passion for people that I do today.”
Jackson is a mother of four and program manager at Ezekiel Community Development Corporation. At Ezekiel, Jackson helps secure funds for programs that provide job training, revitalize area homes and support home ownership, among other duties. Although she has worked in the community for many years, as a felon, she felt stigmatized,. She also has been denied housing and her record has prevented her from obtaining certain professional licenses.
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Jackson is one of 554 individuals to receive pardons from felonies since Evers took office in 2019. As of July 18, there are more than 800 eligible applications for consideration by the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board. Evers’ predecessor, Scott Walker, issued no pardons during his eight-year term that ran from 2011 to 2019, said Chet Agni, a spokesperson for the current governor.
The Wisconsin Constitution grants governors the power to pardon individuals convicted of a felony, which restores their right to serve on juries, to hold public office and to earn certain professional licenses, among other rights. To be eligible for a pardon, individuals must have completed any criminal sentence, including probation or parole, at least five years ago, have no pending criminal charges and not be required to register as a sex offender.
Jackson received support from the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, which provides free legal assistance and other aid to Milwaukee County residents. The organization has helped three other residents gain pardons, with one additional case pending, said Colleen Foley, its executive director.
Foley said helping individuals gain pardons has led to some of the most meaningful experiences in her 30+ year career in law.
“People are haunted by these convictions for decades, and it’s powerful for them to be able to move on from it,” she said. “These are really fine human beings who contribute to the community who made a mistake that has impeded them for too long.”
Anthony Keys, 47, waited more than two decades to be pardoned for a conviction he immediately knew would be his last.
“I knew right then and there that I would move on in life and never look back,” he said.
The problem, said Keys, is that even though he changed his life, his felony still held him back.
“I knew that I would be an even better father, uncle, brother, son and a better person to society in general if I didn’t have that felony on my record,” said Keys,
who volunteered for 15 years as a referee for a neighborhood basketball league at Merrill Park, bought trophies and other supplies for the league and mentors youths and others in his neighborhood.
He filled out the necessary paperwork for a pardon with help from Foley and her team and waited his turn. Months later, he received an invitation to plead his case on Zoom to the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board.
He was granted a pardon.
“When I speak to people of the younger generation, I tell them that we all mess up, but you can turn this around,” he said. “I’m proof of that.”
Last year, Keys went to Madison to testify in support of legislation that prevents juveniles from receiving life sentences without parole in Wisconsin. While there, he ran into Evers and thanked him.
“He said, ‘No, thank you.’ ” Keys said.
Markeese Walker, 42, said life as a felon made his life even harder than it typically is for a Black man in America.
“I can’t qualify for this job; I can’t do this or do that,” he said.
He was 22 when he was convicted of a felony. Since then, he said, he stayed out of trouble and became a positive force for the community. Meeting Foley at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee changed his life even more.
“We’re going to help you get your freedom back,” he said Foley told him. “She believed in me.”
Foley encourages anyone who needs a pardon to reach out to her organization.
To contact the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, click here or call 414-727-5300.

created: August 3, 2022

author: Edgar Mendez


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52229201991_96bec480fb_w-1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
August 2, 2022


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Ron Smith
August 2, 2022


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Dwayne Burtin
August 2, 2022


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PARDON1 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
August 2, 2022


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VERONDA | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
August 2, 2022


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Post From Community: Eco Art Evening | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
David Snell
August 3, 2022
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.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
5:30 PM – 7:00 P.M.
Urban Ecology Center – Riverside Park
(For families) Let the beauty of nature spark the artist in you! Participants will use natural materials to create memorable and fun pieces to take home, from leaf impressions, to stone painting, clay creatures and more! Program is for families – please dress for a naturally messy, artistic night!
$6.00 – $8.00. See website.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
For questions about this program, please contact Augie Rodenbeck at arodenbeck@urbanecologycenter.org.
Registration is required for this event and will close 24 hours prior to event start time.


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July 24, 2022


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Post From Community: Roberto Harrison, Frenia, and Marielle Allschwang presented by Out There Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
David Snell
August 3, 2022
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.
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Roberto Harrison is the author of six poetry collections, most recently YAVIZA (Atelos, 2017) and BRIDGE OF THE WORLD (Litmus Press, 2017). His other books include Culebra (Green Lantern Press, 2016), Bicycle (Noemi Press, 2015), Counter Daemons (Litmus Press, 2006), and OS (Subpress, 2006). He serves as the 2017-2019 Milwaukee Poet Laureate and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife; the poet Brenda Cárdenas.
Frenia is a fluid collective of artists and musicians based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frenia was founded by Ryan Winslow Jann and Paul Rabe in 2016 and is now joined by Pedro M. Gutierrez. Today they are this, tomorrow they are that. Discovery fuels Frenia’s creations, forming a live experience that is seemingly chaotic, phasing in and out of harmonious noise.
The Out There Series is an ongoing opportunity for Milwaukee-area poets and experimental musicians to share their unique experiences of sound. The series is meant to reflect interconnections between Milwaukee’s environmental and artistic ecosystems, fostering deep listening in unexpected places.
For any additional questions about this program, please contact Menomonee Valley Branch Manager, Angélica Sánchez Mora at asanchez@urbanecologycenter.org.
There is no charge for this event. Registration is NOT required.


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July 26, 2022


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Post From Community: Take a ride down the Giant Slide at the Wisconsin State Fair courtesy of UWM | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
August 3, 2022
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.
UW-Milwaukee is giving away free rides down the Giant Slide at the Wisconsin State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 6, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Tickets normally cost $3, but all visitors need to do to get a free-ride voucher to the iconic State Fair attraction is the following:
UWM will have other giveaways and information on upcoming family-friendly events at the university. Staff will be on hand to answer questions from prospective students.
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author: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee


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July 28, 2022


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Two years in, Milwaukee County’s ‘right to shelter’ initiative gets mixed reviews | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
August 4, 2022
In 2020, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors declared a “right to shelter” for all Milwaukee residents experiencing chronic homelessness or without access to safe housing.
Two years later, housing advocates say they have seen some strides but more needs to be done.
“Since the pandemic, everything has looked different,” said Wendy Weckler, the executive director of Hope House, a nonprofit housing shelter. “Because of the emergency hotels, more people who are street homeless have been willing to go in.”
Weckler cited this year’s Point-in-Time Count, which said that only 18 people were unsheltered in Milwaukee, as an example. This count provides a snapshot of homelessness at a certain point in time.
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“Of course, the Point-In-Time Count happens in the middle of January, so those numbers have to come with context,” she said. “I think it’s currently closer to 100 people outside, but people are getting help and access much quicker because of how the system has been working together.”
Others have seen little impact.
“I see many people still waiting,” said MacCanon Brown, the president and CEO of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary, a center that provides a variety of resources to people in need. “The need is bigger than we can comprehend, and it’s not necessarily countable.”
Milwaukee County also enacted a Right to Counsel pilot program also known as Eviction Free MKE, which provides no-cost legal representation for residents facing eviction or foreclosure.
Through the program, lawyers from Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee and Legal Action of Wisconsin have worked from Sept.1, 2021, to March 31 with over 1,000 households to slow the pace of evictions, according to a Right to Counsel outcome report.
The report found the program had prevented evictions, helped families secure more time to move and mitigated damages in some cases.
The county also got a second-shift street outreach team, which verifies people are facing homelessness and works with them to access housing and resources.
The county supervisor who sponsored the measure two years ago, Ryan Clancy, said it has been frustrating to see his colleagues say housing and shelter are needed, then vote against measures to address those needs.
When the Right to Shelter resolution was initially declared, the board rejected three of four budget amendments aimed at putting the measure into effect.
Supervisor Jason Haas, the chairman of the county board’s finance committee, said his panel recommended rejecting the three amendments because they would have taken money away from the sheriff’s office overtime budget.
The amendments the board shot down would have:
Clancy also pointed to a more recent example of the county board failing to reach agreement on a proposal to create a subcommittee that would be partially made up of community members to focus on housing insecurity and to develop housing eviction prevention strategies while ensuring racial equity.
“We’ve made gains,” Clancy said. “But we owe the public more than what we’re doing. At least, we owe them a voice.”
He said with the street outreach team, the county’s housing-first strategy and the right to counsel initiative, the county is headed in a good direction.
“I want to expand the Right to Counsel to ensure the program is also focusing on foreclosures” said Clancy, who is running for state assembly. “I’d also like expand the Right to Counsel throughout the entire state.”

created: August 4, 2022


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HOMELESS2022 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ron Smith
August 3, 2022