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The marijuana debate: Local legislators weigh in on legalization | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
August 29, 2014
Marijuana use, both medical and recreational, is becoming more acceptable in many places around the country. Colorado and Washington have legalized use of the drug and many municipalities have decriminalized it.
In Wisconsin, legislation was introduced to legalize recreational and medical marijuana use and other proposals have sought to reduce the penalties for marijuana possession. In April, Gov. Walker signed a bill legalizing cannibidiol, a marijuana extract, for use in treating children with some seizure syndromes. No other legislation related to marijuana has passed.
The penalty for marijuana possession in Wisconsin is harsh. After one conviction, a subsequent arrest is charged as a felony.
We asked state legislators two questions:
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Sen. Nikiya Harris-Dodd (6th District)
1. This past session, I supported Rep. Melissa Sargent’s bill to legalize marijuana because I believe that our state needs to begin focusing its resources on reducing mass incarceration and prioritizing public safety.
2. Sadly, our state is a glaring example of racial disparity in criminal justice. According to a 2013 study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin leads the nation in racial disparity in incarceration. In addition, over the past several decades, police enforcement of marijuana laws has disproportionately affected persons of color.
Instead of focusing our state resources on preventing violent crimes and stopping the prevalence of dangerous drugs such as heroin, Wisconsin has spent over $100 million in the last 10 years on marijuana arrests alone. This money is better spent allocating police resources to stop dangerous criminals who threaten the safety of our streets and neighborhoods.”
State Rep. Mandela Barnes (11th District)
1. With full legalization in the states of Colorado and Washington, every state has a huge opportunity to watch how the new laws impact these states’ communities and economies. So far, neither state has seen any kind of increase in crime or violence because of the legalization, and in fact, have seen spikes in revenue growth that can be used for a huge variety of the state’s needs. As far as Wisconsin, I think the best plan for our state is to begin with the decriminalization of marijuana possession.
2. Criminal penalties surrounding marijuana possession absolutely need to be addressed. Currently, there are thousands of arrests in the City of Milwaukee for marijuana possession. On top of the enormous cost savings that would result from decriminalization, both on the city and state levels, countless young African American men would no longer feel the disproportionate impacts of incarceration and felony records due to something as relatively harmless as marijuana possession.
Labeling somebody as a felon for possession has far-reaching implications that not only rob our community of somebody who might grow to be an entrepreneur, philanthropic pioneer, professional athlete or political leader, but it also robs these individuals and their families of a proud future. I plan to advocate heavily in the coming legislative session for the decriminalization of marijuana possession.
Also, earlier this summer, I was appointed to the special Legislative Council Joint Committee on the Review of Criminal Penalties. In short, the scope of this committee is to identify current felonies that should be abolished or reduced to misdemeanors, among other things. I am confident that this topic will be explored in the coming months, as the committee considers various outmoded policies that are currently on the books in Wisconsin.
State Rep. Sandy Pasch (10th District-Shorewood)
1. As a first step, I believe legalizing medical marijuana is the right and compassionate thing to do for those dealing with chronic conditions. The past three sessions, I co-sponsored bills which would legalize medical marijuana.This legislation would have allowed access to medical marijuana for patients with a number of debilitating diseases and conditions to receive a prescription for marijuana from their doctors without fear of prosecution.  Unfortunately, there was not enough support to pass these pieces of legislation into law.
In other states, such as Washington and Colorado, there have been debates and successful legislation passed which legalized the use of marijuana. Legalizing marijuana is anticipated to help mend the budget of these states. There has been talk about discussing the legalization of marijuana in Wisconsin; however, nothing has come up definitively. We have a unique opportunity to see what happens in Washington and Colorado first before jumping on the bandwagon.
2. I do not support any legislation that creates additional criminal penalties for possession of marijuana in the State of Wisconsin; we have more important issues to focus on in our society than incarcerating non-violent offenders. This is especially true as seen in your last special report: “Black men bear the brunt of unequal enforcement of marijuana laws.” I believe we need to examine current state laws related to alcohol and drug use. It is not uncommon for decisions on criminality to be based on media and public outrage, rather than scientific facts and thoughtful analysis. Therefore I do support medical marijuana and decriminalizing marijuana usage as initial steps.
State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa (8th District)
1. I think Wisconsin needs to begin moving in that direction through incremental steps beginning with the legalization of medicinal marijuana use as well as reducing penalties and decriminalizing marijuana possession and recreational use in our state.  If we move in the direction of decriminalization with state oversight and regulation, Wisconsin would be able to find a better balance that would still penalize the trafficking of the drug on the black market while relieving our courts and correctional facilities of low level, often first-time offenders.
2. Again, I support the movement towards eventual legalization with the first step being decriminalization of marijuana possession. You have a plant that many people in this state smoke recreationally and the subsequent penalties for possession can ruin lives, cripple careers and separate families…not to mention overly strain our state’s prisons and correctional facilities.
State Rep. Evan Goyke (18th District)
1. “I don’t yet know if I support the legalization of marijuana. I am watching Washington and Colorado closely and am listening to both proponents and opponents here in Wisconsin.  I do believe there needs to be immediate changes to our enforcement and criminal justice responses to marijuana possession, which can be done without delay.”
2. I strongly support and have tried to champion changing how the criminal justice system treats marijuana possession.  Far too many young people are forever branded with the scarlet “felon” label due to a marijuana possession conviction.  If marijuana possession was treated the same as drunk driving, I believe many of the negative outcomes within the justice system would be reduced.”
What do you think? Share your comments below.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 28, 2014

source: news-milwaukeenns

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

author: Adam Carr


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14879203829_68408264fe_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 28, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 28, 2014
Young girl wearing leather jacket smoking a joint


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President Obama to headline Laborfest on Summerfest grounds | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
September 1, 2014
President Obama mingles with the crowd at Milwaukee’s Laborfest on Labor Day, 2010. (Photo courtesy of Wisconsin AFL-CIO)
The public is invited to mark Labor Day at Milwaukee’s Laborfest, an annual event celebrating the city’s historic place in the nation’s labor movement  President Barack Obama is expected to attend.
The president is expected to talk about jobs, the economy and workers’ rights during the 55 annual Labor Day celebration, which will run from noon to 5 p.m. on the Summerfest grounds.
“President Obama stands with workers fighting to raise the minimum wage, has enacted policies to combat income inequality and supports collective bargaining rights for public and private sector workers,” said Sheila Cochran, the secretary-treasurer of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council.
President Obama addresses the crowd on Labor Day, 2010. (Photo courtesy of Wisconsin AFL-CIO)
“We proudly welcome President Obama to Milwaukee and look forward to celebrating working people together this Labor Day,” she added.
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The focus of this year’s Laborfest will be justice for workers and making jobs safer, better and fairer for everyone, according to organizers.
“Marking the constant struggle workers face, Laborfest is a time to not only relax with your family on the lakefront but join in solidarity for strong neighborhoods and communities,” organizers said on the labor council’s site.
The event will start at 11 a.m. with a parade beginning at Zeidler Union Square, 301 W. Michigan St., and will consist of children’s activities, live music and an auto show. A raffle for a Harley Davidson motorcycle also will be held.
Obama attended the 2008 and 2010 Laborfest and has made frequent campaign and presidential visits to Wisconsin. The event will likely give the president an opportunity to talk about his push for an increase in the minimum wage.
“The bottom line is, America deserves a raise,” he said during his weekly address to the nation on Saturday.  “But until we’ve got a Congress that cares about raising working folks’ wages, it’s up to the rest of us to make it happen.”
The event also gives the community and opportunity to reflect on the city’s and state’s place in labor history. Early organized labor roots can be found in Wisconsin and Milwaukee, where the Molders Union, the country’s first modern trade union, began a chapter in 1865 and where workers marched and held strikes demanding an eight-hour workday in 1886, according to the Wisconsin Labor History Society.
The state’s labor struggles came full circle in 2011, when a fierce political battle erupted after Republican Gov. Scott Walker spearheaded reforms that stripped away collective bargaining rights for many public employees, leading to massive protests and a series of recalls.
“Labor’s history tells us that the struggle is a constant one — often in frustration, but always seeking to move forward to build a better life for the workers of future generations,” wrote Ken Germanson, on the organization’s website.

created: September 1, 2014

author: Brendan O’Brien


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
August 31, 2014


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Council member to introduce legislation requiring body cameras on police | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matthew Wisla
September 2, 2014
Tracey Dent, community organizer, collected more than 2,100 signatures on a petition in support of police body cameras. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
Ald. Milele Coggs is expected to introduce legislation before the Common Council this week requiring the Milwaukee Police Department to acquire and use body cameras. The intent is to provide an impartial record of controversial incidents, such as the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Mo.
The legislation would require the police department to provide cameras that officers would have to wear while working in the community. It would include a deadline for when the cameras must be in use, as well as guidelines for their use, according to Coggs.
The cameras are said to benefit police departments by lowering incidents of citizen complaints against police, as in the case of Dontre Hamilton, who was shot to death by a Milwaukee police officer in Red Arrow Park in April. Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Edward Flynn have come out in favor of the cameras, and the department has plans for a pilot program.
Coggs said the cameras could save the city money, based on fewer lawsuits filed against police. She said other municipalities have saved money after they began using body cameras, but purchasing the cameras and supporting technology would be an initial expense.
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Ald. Milele Coggs is sponsoring legislation that would require police to use body cameras. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
The idea of outfitting police officers with body cameras became a hot topic in Milwaukee last month while the incidents in Ferguson were unfolding. Coggs, however, was ahead of the curve, having worked on the issue since February. She began researching the issue after noticing that several police departments around the country, including a few in Wisconsin, were successfully adopting the new technology.
But implementation won’t be as simple as passing out cameras in the squad room and switching them on in the street. The American Civil Liberties Union and others point out that safeguarding privacy rights is an issue, particularly in domestic situations and cases involving sexual abuse. Also, the department needs to consider issues surrounding an officer’s discretion to turn a camera off. There is also the matter of cost, not only for the cameras, but for cataloguing and storing captured images.
Coggs hopes her legislation will help move the issue forward in a timely fashion. “We all know good ideas don’t always get implemented as they should,” Coggs said. “This is a serious issue. I believe all Milwaukee police officers should be outfitted with cameras.”
During a recent community demonstration in support of the citizens of Ferguson, more than 15 local groups, including NAACP Milwaukee and the Center for Youth Engagement, endorsed a proposal requiring front-facing cameras on police. The proposal states that the cameras will increase safety, while helping ensure accountability on the part of police.
Community organizer Tracey Dent recently drafted a petition supporting the cameras and collected more than 2,100 signatures from Milwaukee and surrounding communities in about a week. “People started hearing about the petition and signatures started coming in fast. The community wants this,” Dent said.
In nearby Port Washington, police have been wearing body cameras that record video and audio for about four years. “Everyone has been extremely happy with them,” said Capt. Michael Davel. “With the cameras there is never any question about what did or did not happen, and since they accompany the officer they record much more than dashboard-mounted cameras in the squad cars.”
While passersby can record video of police interactions with citizens, those scenes might only capture the final moments of an incident out of context. Body cameras worn by police document everything, which is why there appears to be a broad consensus for them in Milwaukee.
With the city’s budgeting process for 2015 beginning soon and a pilot program moving forward, the city will begin to address how to pay for cameras and guidelines for using them. In the meantime, elected officials such as Coggs and community leaders say they are determined to keep a spotlight on the issue.

created: September 2, 2014

author: Matthew Wisla


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 1, 2014


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Neighborhood nonprofits among grant recipients | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
September 3, 2014
An expansion and renovation of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County’s West Bend facility is receiving $100,000 in funding from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
The $1.2 million project will nearly triple the space of the facility at 925 N. Silverbrook Dr., adding 7,500 square feet to the existing 4,000-square-foot building. The expansion is in response to participant growth at the West Bend location. Membership grew from 325 to 1,300 between 2005 and 2014 and is expected to increase in the coming years.
“The Boys & Girls Club has done an impressive job over the years serving more and more kids with its after-school and summer enrichment programs and activities. It’s clear that they need a larger facility in West Bend,” said Fred R. Gutierrez, senior program officer for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “We’re glad to join our partners in West Bend to make the dream for a new facility become reality.”
The grant was among more than $838,000 awarded during the Foundation’s second quarter competitive grant cycle to address key issues in the community. The total includes more than $300,000 granted to area visual arts programs during its second quarter from the Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Fund and other funds. Additional grants of $15,000 and above include:
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Increasing economic opportunities
to support a vocational training and employment incubator for veterans at Troop Café, a not-for-profit café and commercial kitchen for its Veterans Manor housing facility.
Strengthening education
in support ofexpandingNext Steps, a special summer theatre academy for young people with autism spectrum disorder.
for programmatic outreach to school-age children in Milwaukee in alignment with future goals of the Harmony Initiative. A collaboration between the Ballet, UWM’s Peck School of the Arts and the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Harmony Initiative will house the Ballet’s offices and school, performance space for UWM dancers and a full sports medicine clinic.
in support of the Milwaukee Film’s educational screenings, which will expose 7,000 students at 55 schools to quality cinema from all over the world. The grant will cover the development of curriculum packets for participating educators.
to support the Summer Art Education Institute, which consists of six, daylong professional development courses at the Lynden Sculpture Garden that teach educators about arts education strategies.
Building strong neighborhoods
to organize stakeholder engagement to ensure that residents and other stakeholders have a voice in the economic and ecological redevelopment of the Inner Harbor, an area on the near southeast side of Milwaukee where the Menomonee, Kinnickinnic and Milwaukee rivers meet.
in support of the implementation of Healthy Neighborhood Initiative strategies in Milwaukee’s Capitol Heights neighborhood. The grant also will cover a portion of a youth program supervisor, who will oversee youth participating in the Mayor’s Earn & Learn Program for summer youth training and employment.
Investing in regional vitality
over two years to support capacity development of Ko-Thi, African American Children’s Theater and the Hansberry-Sands Theater Co.
to help develop a comprehensive plan to identify and protect key properties in the Milwaukee River Basin.
for the Outpatient Mental Health Clinical Capacity Analysis, which will assess the continuum of clinical outpatient services in Milwaukee County for low-income adults and children to inform collaborative planning and help shape the behavioral health care system in Milwaukee.
to provide better service coordination for grandparents serving as guardians for their grandchildren at the Villard Grandfamilies apartments.

created: September 3, 2014

author: Greater Milwaukee Foundation


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Construction skills training program expelled from North Division | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
September 3, 2014
OHMS founder Ezzard White explains the OHMS program to visitors in an industrial technology training lab at the Barack Obama School. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
One Hope Made Strong, a construction skills training program with 275 students enrolled and a waiting list of more than 500 students, has been forced to leave North Division High School because its founder was ineligible to sign a contract to use the facility.
Ezzard White, a business owner and retired electrical technology teacher, founded the program in fall 2013 and has paid all costs for the program himself, according to Pastor Theresa Thomas-Boyd, a member of the organization.
Classes were held at North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St., between April and June. In June, White was told that the program needed to move out of the school. MPS spokesman Tony Tagliavia said that White was ineligible to sign the contract because he has a criminal record.
Finding appropriate space for classes has been a challenge. Classes were initially held in several central city churches whose pastors donated space, but from the beginning White sought workshop space where students would have access to tools and hands-on training.
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Maurice Turner, principal, Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, greets Leon Andrews, senior fellow, National League of Cities, in front of the school. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Last spring, he worked out an arrangement through Milwaukee Recreation, a division of Milwaukee Public Schools, to use idle industrial technology labs at North Division High School.
White received a phone call from MPS’ Chief Operations Officer Michelle Nate in June informing him that he would not be able to continue at the school, he said.
According to White, MPS called his students and told them the OHMS classes were being cancelled. The school district refunded the $40 fee each student paid for use of the classrooms and labs, White said.
White said that he has a 25-year-old forgery conviction that occurred when a tenant signed over a welfare check to him for rent, claimed that the check was stolen and filed for a replacement check from the state. White said he was on probation for 10 years.
White and his students were able to return immediately to the program’s original home at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1927 N. 4th St., and finish the interrupted welding classes. However, students will have to make up the lab portion of the module before completing the program.
Although plans are not finalized, White expects to continue offering the classes at the Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, 5075 N. Sherman Blvd., on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings beginning in mid-September. Interested students can contact Program Director Ruby Dawson at 414-445-0373.
White said he has been told by MPS that he is eligible to teach, adding that others in the OHMS organization can be parties to a contractual agreement.
White addressed a group of representatives from the National League of Cities and My Brothers Keeper at Barack Obama School during a recent two-day visit to Milwaukee. Milwaukee was one of 11 cities selected from among 28 applicants by the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families. The cities will receive technical assistance and grants to help with their work to reduce disparities and promote achievement among black men and boys, said NLC Senior Fellow Leon Andrews.
My Brothers Keeper is a White House initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential, according to its Web site.
Clarification: The following are MPS spokesman Tony Tagliavia’s exact words in an email to NNS: “Contractors in MPS are required to go through a screening process which includes a criminal background check. Ezzard White is not eligible to be a contractor with the district.”

author: Andrea Waxman


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 2, 2014


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Hunger Task Force farm teaches children about food, community | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Raina J. Johnson
September 4, 2014
Althea Storm, 2, picks chard from a raised garden bed at the farm. (Photo by Amber Storm, MilwaukeeByStorm.com)
Amber Storm, carrying her youngest child on her back, bent over to help her 2-year-old twins, Althea and Judah, pick handfuls of Swiss chard from a raised garden at the Hunger Task Force farm in Franklin.
She explained to the twins that if the chard is dark green with a red stem, it is ripe and ready to pick. She then put a small piece of the bitter leafy green vegetable into each of their mouths. The twins spit it out.
Storm, who brought her four children from Wauwatosa to work at the Hunger Task Force farm, said volunteering gives her young kids a chance to think outside of their family.
Amber Storm, of Wauwatosa, carries her baby daughter, Silvia, at the Hunger Task Force farm. (Photo by Amber Storm, MilwaukeeByStorm.com)
“Community is really important to me, and volunteering is a great way for us to connect to the people around us and understand what other people are going through,” she said.
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The Farm, on South 68th Street in Franklin, is a volunteer-based program that teaches families and children about farming, healthy cooking, and using fresh and local food options. On a recent visit to the farm, families joined with Hunger Task Force staff to harvest the chard, along with butternut squash, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, banana peppers and other vegetables.
The Farm sits on 200 acres of land and grows food all year long. For the last 14 years, the produce has been distributed in Milwaukee County and through hunger relief networks across the state.
Located across the street from the House of Correction, the farm has used inmate labor to plant and harvest food. However, in recent years the number of group and individual volunteers has increased, so inmates no longer work there.
In addition to harvesting vegetables, Storm and her children took advantage of everything the farm has to offer, including feeding the 10 goats and seeing fish in the hatchery.
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to get my very young kids a chance at playing in the dirt for a good cause. I learned a lot about the Hunger Task Force and am excited to find new ways to support it,” Storm said.

created: September 4, 2014

author: Raina J. Johnson


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 3, 2014


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On the Block: Preacher man | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
September 4, 2014
Shawn Ede preaches the Gospel at the busy intersection where Burleigh Street, Fond Du Lac Avenue and 35th Street with the hope his word will make a positive difference.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 4, 2014


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Silver Spring Neighborhood Center offers backpacks, hot dogs, place to connect | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
September 5, 2014
Hundreds of people lined up for a backpack giveaway at Silver Spring Neighborhood Center. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
An hour before the start of a backpack giveaway at the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N. 64 St., the line of visitors snakes from the edge of the playground and past the main entrance, a sign of the high level of need in the area.
The center, which opened in 1958, shadows both the modern Westlawn Gardens, and the weathered Westlawn Housing Project.
For the past 10 years, backpacks and supplies have been donated to low-income elementary, middle and high school students there. This year, Silver Spring gave away 500 backpacks and provided employment resources to attendees.
But once visitors got through the line to receive their backpacks and other services, most stuck around to eat, listen to music and chat with fellow residents. To longtime resident Carolyn Milhouse, that’s a positive sign.
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“People in this neighborhood have productive things to come out and do together now,” Milhouse said.
Anthony McHenry, executive director of the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, welcomes the crowd. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Milhouse said that there seems to be much more going on there now than when she moved into the area in the early ‘80s. As a result, the neighborhood, which she said was once among the most dangerous in the city, is much safer.
Residents say some of the change is linked to the major physical transformation of Westlawn in 2010, when the eastern half was razed to make room for the $82 million eco-friendly Westlawn Gardens, which opened in 2013.
The rejuvenation of the east side of Westlawn sparked momentum on the other side, said Jackie Burrell, president of the Westlawn Resident Council.
“It took a long time to change attitudes on this side, but we went at it,” said Burrell, president of the council for the past two years.
The epicenter of change was the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center itself, she said.
“We began to partner up more so that more residents could utilize the building and we could let each other know what we needed,” Burrell said.
The center’s services include early childhood education, youth development programs and employment programs. According to Anthony McHenry, executive director of the center, the youth development program served 1,820 young people in 2013. Of the youth who participated, none became felons or teen parents during that time, he said.
The center attacks problems associated with poverty at multiple levels, said McHenry. Providing employment services is one way to help area residents build self-sufficiency, and giving away backpacks with supplies helps students get off to a good start, he added.
The hot dogs and music—that’s called community building.
More activities at the center keep more kids busy and streets safer, according to Cordell Ray, who’s been patrolling Westlawn for 18 years as captain of public safety for the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee.
“We get a lot less calls at Westlawn than we used to,” Ray said. Residents are taking ownership of the neighborhood and helping to clean it up, he added.
“I’d tell residents, if you don’t call us we think nothing’s happening,” he said.
Now they call, he said, especially when outsiders are vandalizing the playground or breaking other rules that residents of the project abide by.
Of course, not everyone at Westlawn has changed, noted Jennifer Andlar, who has lived there on and off for 20 years. She said there’s no shortage of people causing trouble, but she does see positive signs.
More people care now, and that’s important, she said.
“People from the center reach out to us now, trying to get people involved and offering us help so we can improve our lives,” Andlar said.

created: September 5, 2014

author: Edgar Mendez


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City workers remain rooted in Enderis Park despite elimination of residency rule | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
September 8, 2014
(Photo by Molly Rippinger)
When Milwaukee’s long-standing residency requirement was lifted, many questioned whether municipal workers living in neighborhoods such as Enderis Park would leave the city, opting for life in the suburbs. Six months after a county judge voided the residency rule, it appears Enderis Park residents are largely staying put.
Scott McGroarty, president of the Enderis Park Board of Directors, said he has not witnessed an exodus of city workers from the community.
“Residents who are with the school system and the police and fire departments are staying here,” explained McGroarty.
McGroarty credits much of Enderis Park’s appeal to the strong sense of community that deeply resonates with residents.
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“People don’t want to leave what they have here” said McGroarty, who has lived in the community since 2007. “We are a diverse neighborhood with single-family homes, duplexes, apartment buildings and we’re close to everything.”
Craig Auterman, a former teacher who worked for 21 years for the Milwaukee Public Schools, lives in Enderis Park. Outside his home at 67 Street and Lisbon Avenue, Auterman expressed his fondness for the neighborhood, adding, “It’s a great place to raise a family.” Auterman acknowledged that he would have appreciated having the option to live outside city limits when he originally accepted the position with MPS, but he has no regrets about living in Enderis Park.
Another former MPS teacher and Enderis Park resident, Kathy Badger, explained that the neighborhood was a good option for family-oriented city workers while the residency requirement was in effect. “This is where a lot of the police, firefighters and teachers would live,” said Badger, who has remained in Enderis Park because she and her family did not want to move away from the friendships and vibrant community they found within the neighborhood.
Located on the western fringe of Milwaukee, Enderis Park was the kind of community that caused concern during last year’s debates over the residency requirement. Mayor Tom Barrett worried that without the obligation to live within Milwaukee city limits, municipal workers would leave for communities in surrounding areas, such as those in Waukesha County.
In spring 2013, Barrett predicted that within a decade of the residency requirements being lifted “approximately half of public employees” would move outside city limits.
According to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) website, fewer than 50 homes are currently for sale in the Enderis Park neighborhood, which has approximately 1,500 residences. In the month of August, only three new single home listings were reported, compared to four new listings in August 2013.
Lori Sommervold, a resident and member of the Enderis Park Board of Directors, said she has not noticed an influx of homes being put on the market.
“I’ve seen no immediate impact,” explained Sommervold. “Teachers, firemen and police are still living here.”

created: September 8, 2014

author: Molly Rippinger


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

created: September 7, 2014


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CVS goes tobacco-free | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance
September 8, 2014
CVS Caremark pharmacies went tobacco-free in their stores last week—a full month ahead of their originally planned October 1 implementation date.  This is great news for all of us in Milwaukee!  Even better, they just announced their refusal to carry any e-cigarettes, which are unregulated and can still create addiction-like changes in the brain.
On their website, CVS provides rationale for their tobacco-free decision by stating that cigarettes and tobacco products have no place in a setting where health care is involved.  We couldn’t agree more, and we encourage all pharmacies in the Greater Milwaukee area to follow suit.
As your tobacco prevention and control partners in Greater Milwaukee, we know the threat from tobacco is not over.  We work every day to reduce death and disease caused by tobacco while helping to prevent tobacco from ending up in the hands of children and teens.
Is this your time to quit?  CVS’ and other pharmacies’ decisions to go tobacco-free also provides an excellent opportunity for tobacco users to get the help they need to quit tobacco.  Free assistance is available through the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT NOW.  Please consider calling the Quit Line today and taking the first step towards a healthier life.
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Sincerely,
City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance, Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network, Wisconsin Hispanic/Latino Tobacco Prevention Network, Dodge/Jefferson/Walworth Tobacco Prevention Network, and Suburban Milwaukee/Ozaukee Tobacco Prevention Network

author: City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance


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Residents, police officers link arms to embrace Metcalfe Park, Amani | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Raina J. Johnson
September 9, 2014
Participants hold hands at the Arms Around Us event in Metcalfe Park. (Photo by Stanford Brookshire)
Linking arms to display physical unity and a commitment to working together to revitalize the Metcalfe Park and Amani neighborhoods, hundreds of residents, police officers and elected officials gathered on a recent Saturday afternoon for an event called “Arms Around Us.”
The event was organized by the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program. Milwaukee is one of four cities chosen to be part of the federal initiative to promote healthy neighborhoods.
Some participants wore Arms Around Us t-shirts and colored wristbands, while others wore white t-shirts with black, red and green letters that read, “I am Amani United and Proud.” The group marched from the Fitzsimonds Boys & Girls Club, 3400 W. North Ave., to the corner of N. 35 Street and North Avenue, where they began linking arms.
Ald. Russell Stamper marched to demonstrate commitment to a “clean, safe, healthy neighborhood.” (Photo by Stanford Brookshire)
Covering three city blocks, they chanted, “We believe in the power of the people, ’cause the power of the people don’t stop.” Some drivers honked their horns in support.
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Residents sought commitments from the elected officials to help transform the neighborhood. Among the ideas were better public transportation and the cleaning and maintenance of open lots to beautify the community.
Elected officials and neighborhood representatives from Metcalfe Park, Amani, Sherman Park and Washington Park signed a contract committing them to a healthier, safer neighborhood and to work towards a better Milwaukee as a whole.
Wearing a bright orange Arms Around Us t-shirt, Ald. Russell Stamper, whose district includes Metcalfe Park, affirmed to the crowd that he “stands committed to promoting safety and a clean, safe, healthy neighborhood.”
Added State Rep. Evan Goyke of the 18 District, “I’m here to learn, to connect and hear from people. There are a lot of problems in Milwaukee, but events like this show a concentration and a dedication to solving one problem at a time.”
Danell Cross, one of the event’s coordinators, said that community leaders hope to bring together an “inner-city community council, as one community to work together on the issues that plague us.”
“We learned a lot from this event,” Cross added. “People want to come together to help solve problems.”
After the march, residents returned to the Boys & Girls Club for a picnic-style-lunch of hotdogs, brats and chips. Musical entertainment and face painting were provided for the children. The event also included a resource fair with information for residents provided by The Hope Network, Running Rebels and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
Many people from outside of the Metcalfe and Amani neighborhoods participated, as a sign of their commitment to restoring neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee.
Charles Carmickle, a Washington Park resident, said that the community has been “psychologically pulled apart. Events like this will create a family in the neighborhood. We’re all a family.”

created: September 9, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 8, 2014


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How can my smartphone help me in an emergency? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
FEMA Region V
September 10, 2014
Disaster preparedness begins with knowing your risks, making a communications plan and having an emergency supply kit with essentials such as water, food, flashlights and medications. Go beyond the basics to enhance your readiness with the following digital tools and tips:
Program important phone numbers into your contacts.  Make sure your contact list includes friends, loved ones and anyone else you may need to rely on or reach out to in the event of a disaster. Include doctors, pharmacies, day care and dog walker contacts to ensure you can take care of yourself and your family’s needs.
Plan to use text messaging. During and after a disaster, phone lines usually become overwhelmed. Texting can help you check on your friends and family, leaving the phone lines open for emergency use.
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Retain power, even when power is out. Consider investing in solar-powered or hand-crank chargers and external cell batteries to extend the life of your smartphone in case of a blackout. In the event of a power outage, remember to conserve cell battery by reducing screen brightness and turning your phone on airplane mode when you’re not using it.
Use social media to stay informed. Connect with your state and local public health and emergency management agencies on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on safety information before, during and after a disaster. You can also follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5 and facebook.com/fema.
Identify your important documents and electronically store them in a safe space. Scan important records such as household records, medical records and financial documents, and save the files on a cloud or flash drive. You may also want to password-protect the data you have stored in case of loss or theft. Store the backup records in a safe deposit box or other off-site location.
Download apps to get and stay prepared.
Get safety information sent directly to your phone. Below is a list of disaster specific keywords you can use to sign-up for bi-monthly safety tips via text message:
You can always find valuable tips to help you prepare for emergencies at www.Ready.gov and by following FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema.

created: September 10, 2014

author: FEMA Region V


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 17, 2014

created: September 17, 2014


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Fifty of nearly 600 laid-off Cargill workers get new jobs with the company | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
September 11, 2014
A group of Burmese workers waits outside the American Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave., to get information about the Cargill beef slaughterhouse plant closing. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Laid-off Cargill workers have filled the 44 open jobs at the company’s Butler facility, leaving most of the 250 applicants for those positions out of luck. In total, 300 people applied to regain positions as well as their seniority at Cargill. Fifty were hired, six of whom accepted out-of-state positions, according to company spokesman Michael Martin.
Nearly 600 people at Cargill’s beef slaughterhouse plant, 1915 W. Canal St., lost their jobs in late July. The company, in collaboration with other employers, has hosted two job fairs, but has no more planned, Martin said.
One of the fairs was held in late August at MATC’s Milwaukee Enterprise Center South, 816 W. National Ave. Dozens of local companies including temp agencies, meat processors and spice companies, sent recruiters to both well-attended job fairs. No information is available on how many people were offered jobs.
Miguel Guzman, who worked for 13 years as an industrial maintenance mechanic at Cargill was also there, handing out more than 50 resumes.
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“I was handing them (resumes) out like candy on Halloween,” Guzman said.
Cargill maintenance workers walk past Potawatomi Casino toward the now closed beef slaughterhouse facility. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
One of those leads panned out and he’ll be starting his new job as a mechanic at Patrick Cudahy next week.
He said he did not even consider applying at another Cargill plant. He’d worked in the processing plant at Cargill, which is still open, but when maintenance crews from each plant were combined and pared down, he too lost his job.
“They told us our jobs were safe and two days later, slapped us in the face,” Guzman said.
Many displaced Cargill workers still need jobs.
Not since the closing of Kohl’s Food Store franchises in 2003 has there been such a wide-scale dislocation of workers in Milwaukee, said Roger Hinkle, unemployment and training specialist for the HIRE Center of Milwaukee.
Nearly 600 workers, most from the central city, lost their jobs at Cargill’s slaughterhouse, said Hinkle, who has worked for the HIRE Center for 25 years.
The surge of suddenly unemployed workers created a number of unique challenges for the HIRE Center, which is a component of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB).
Already well equipped to handle the Spanish-speaking contingent of workers, the big challenge is providing services to the other refugee or immigrant populations, said Hinkle.
“They had a very large and diverse workforce there,” he added.
In response, the center is providing assistance in Burmese, Hmong and other languages.
About 300 of the displaced Cargill workers have already gone through the intake process at the HIRE Center and are currently being provided job training and crisis services that will continue for an unlimited amount of time, Hinkle said.
The fired workers received 60 days pay from the company, which is the minimum amount mandated by federal law. Former employees also received varying severance packages and are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits, according to Martin.
Guzman said the situations of his former co-workers vary from those looking forward to new careers to others who are concerned they won’t find work before their severance runs out.
“I consider myself blessed right now to have gotten a job doing the same thing, but I got lucky,” Guzman said.

created: September 11, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 10, 2014


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Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers seeks Community Healthcorps Member | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
September 12, 2014
Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers is seeking a dynamic individual to serve as a full time (1700 hours within ten months) Community HealthCorps Member in the Department of Environmental Health.
Community HealthCorps Members increase access to health care, provide health education and support that lead to appropriate use of health care services and better “self-care” by health center patients, and recruit and develop volunteers to support community health centers. At Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, the Community HealthCorps (AmeriCorps) Member in the Department of Environmental Health will focus his/her contribution primarily on the Kinnickinnic River Corridor Neighborhood Plan. The plan seeks to improve health and quality of life outcomes through improvements to the built and natural environment of the Kinnickinnic River neighborhood, where an $80 million flood management project is underway. The project demands coordination of community outreach, engagement and organizing. Member will be expected to lead the planning and coordination of two large River clean up events, assist in the facilitation of community garden programming for youth and families, conduct outreach for ongoing programming and events in collaboration with residents, the local police department, institutional partners and other stakeholders. Member will also help identify other projects that meet community needs and assist in soliciting resources to support projects. In addition to their primary service roles, Members at Sixteenth Street meet on a regular basis for team-building, training (related to the health center, their positions, and professional development), and planning upcoming service projects. Community HealthCorps Members recruit and develop volunteers, plan and carry out service projects, receive training and participate in team-building activities. Spanish fluency preferred but not required.
A testimonial from a previous Americorps member:
“Serving with the Department of Environmental Health at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers (SSCHC) helped me learn about public health through service to a dynamic and energizing community. I wanted to take a year off following undergraduate education and give back, and I ended up enhancing career skills and fostering a love for public health along the way. Each day presented opportunities to practice and master my Spanish through conversation with native-speaking residents in the neighborhood we served. I was given the freedom and support to plan and initiate community empowerment activities, events and outreach, such as river cleanups, bicycle days, littering prevention, home improvement and rain garden installations. The staff was amazing to work with and they inspired me with their drive to improve the Southside Milwaukee Community. The combination of a wonderful workplace and rewarding community health improvements following my hard work motivated me every day and made the experience invaluable. My year spent with SSCHC has sustained my passion for public health and I am currently earning a joint degree in medicine and public health and the University of Minnesota Medical School.”
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Deadline to apply is October 1st at the following link:
http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps

created: September 12, 2014


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Solar energy program shines on two more city neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Brendan O’Brien
September 12, 2014
Workers install solar energy equipment on a roof in the Burnham Park neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors)
A push to make solar power equipment and installation affordable for property owners while educating them on the benefits of solar energy is underway in two Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Milwaukee Shines, the city’s solar program, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and the Riverwest Cooperative Alliance are teaming up to expand a group purchasing program for the alternative energy source into Layton Boulevard West and Washington Heights.
The purchasing program groups property owners together and submits requests for proposals to solar power companies on their behalf. This is less expensive for property owners than purchasing solar equipment and installation alone.
“We’re using the power of buying in bulk to lower the cost for the homeowner,” said Amy Heart, the manager of Milwaukee Shines, in a statement. “Solar is a viable option in Milwaukee, and this program helps residents learn about the technology and connect with financing solutions to make it a reality for their home or business.”
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Workers install solar energy equipment on a roof in the Burnham Park neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors)
Another component of the program is education. Several informational sessions where property owners can learn about solar power have been scheduled in each neighborhood during the next few months.
The next informational session in Layton Boulevard West will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 18, at the Urban Ecology Center, 3700 W. Pierce St. A session in Washington Heights will be at 6 p.m. Monday at the Urban Ecology Center, 1859 N. 40th St.
The use of solar power reduces the amount of coal emissions resulting in cleaner air, according to Peter Murphy of the Riverwest Cooperative Alliance. Another benefit to solar power is that it reduces energy costs for homeowners, he said.
“It’s a sound investment because energy prices will go up; they have gone up forever,” Murphy said.
Solar equipment and installation will typically pay for itself in seven to 10 years with the current pricing structure set by We Energies, Murphy said. However, We Energies has asked the Public Service Commission to allow the utility to boost its fixed charges from $9 to $16 a month and introduce a fee for customers with solar panels on their homes.
The proposed changes in the pricing structure would make the return on investment 15 to 20 years, Murphy said.
Although the effort is concentrated in Layton Boulevard West and Washington Heights, the program is open to anyone in the Milwaukee area, Murphy said.
The group purchasing program was piloted in 2013 in Riverwest, where 17 homeowners installed solar, more than the amount of installs in the rest of Milwaukee the previous year. Another 35 homeowners in the Bay View neighborhood participated in the program earlier this year.
Correction: The location for the information session on Monday, Sept. 15, is incorrect. It will take place at the Washington Park library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd. NNS regrets the error.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 11, 2014


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Interactive art project plants “LUV” seats at bus stops | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
September 15, 2014
Artist Evelyn Patricia Terry worked with community members to craft mosaics as part of an exhibit called Creational Trails. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Artistic tree stumps mosaics, referred to as “LUV Downtown StreetSeats,” have recently sprouted up alongside Wisconsin Avenue bus stops between 4 and 8 streets. The stumps are topped with circular concrete slabs studded with an eclectic array of objects ranging from seashells and Scrabble pieces to strings of beads and shiny buttons.
Evelyn Patricia Terry, who was named “2014 Artist of the Year” by the Milwaukee Arts Board, crafted the project.
Leon Barnes Jr. was sitting on one of the “LUV” seats while waiting for the bus near the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and James Lovell Street on a recent weekday. “They’re beautiful,” said Barnes, who said he admires Terry’s imagination and resourcefulness.
Jasmine Johnson made use of a colorful “LUV” seat while waiting for the bus with her mother, Deborah. (Photo by Molly Rippinger)
Another Milwaukeean, Jerome Gold, called the project “very creative,” while Katherine Chavez was unsure about how to interact with the stumps while waiting for the bus outside of the Wisconsin Center. “Are you supposed to sit on them?” asked Chavez, who said the “LUV” seats are an interesting addition to her daily bus route.
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Terry came up with the idea for the “LUV” seats last year when Creational Trails— a series of art projects that promote a positive, vibrant culture throughout Milwaukee —asked area artists to pitch projects to be showcased along Wisconsin Avenue.
“It was an organic process,” said Terry, who wanted her project to involve seating for an urban setting. She settled on tree trunks, which Terry collected by asking the City of Milwaukee’s Forestry Services, the Vanguard Sculpture Services and fellow artists if they had any downed logs or stumps to donate to the project. Terry then affixed the stumps with branches wrapped in bright strips of duct tape.
The idea for the mosaic toppers came as Terry sought a way to incorporate pieces from her vast collection of found materials, which includes jewelry, trinkets and small toys.
Milwaukeeans created the mosaics with the help of Terry and area muralist Sally Duback at NEWaukee Night Markets, a monthly initiative of Creational Trails that has transformed the parking lot between 4 and 5 streets on Wisconsin Avenue into a space dedicated to the local art scene.
Fondé Bridges, Terry’s son and a “healthy words” advocate in Milwaukee, also was there to encourage participants to incorporate words such as “inspire,” “benefit” and “gratitude” into their designs.
“It was exciting to have public engagement,” said Terry, who was elated by the random pattern compositions and vibrant colors that the participants created.
The “LUV” seats are part of a series of interactive street exhibits produced for the Night Markets. Others include Daniel Fleming’s project “FaceBox”—a physical form of Facebook that allows people to hand write their “statuses” upon large black boxes located between 4 and 5 streets on Wisconsin Avenue.
The Night Markets have provided Milwaukeeans an opportunity to interact with artists, vendors, live performers and area restaurants in a safe and vibrant setting. The last Night Markets of the season will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 5-10 p.m.

created: September 15, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 14, 2014

created: September 14, 2014


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15212084136_ce497b31b9_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 14, 2014


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On the Block: Milwaukee Flying | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 15, 2014
Flipping, twisting, and soaring through the air, the Milwaukee Flyers Tumbling Team put on a show at Walnut Way’s Harvest Day.


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DSC07855 copya | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 15, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 15, 2014


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Grant helps keep Capitol Heights lawns trimmed, youth busy | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matthew Wisla
September 16, 2014
Don Tate, site supervisor for the Summer Youth Program in Capitol Heights, trains workers in lawn care techniques and proper use of lawn and garden equipment. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
When a homeowner in Capitol Heights needed to relocate for a new job last summer, the opportunity came with a complication. How would she keep up with the lawn and yard work while the house sat vacant on the market and she was out of town?
The answer was landscaping services from the Capitol Heights Summer Youth Program. The program trains and employs young workers who perform weekly lawn care service for neighborhood residents. The Capitol Heights Neighborhood Association recently received a $15,000 grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative to continue the program next summer.
Wrapping up its fourth year, the Summer Youth Program helps elderly and handicapped residents maintain their property while providing employment and job skills to young workers. By not letting properties run down, the program helps keep the neighborhood strong, according to Darlene Russell, senior program officer with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, which has funded the Capitol Heights program annually.
The Capitol Heights Neighborhood Association administers the program, using Albright United Methodist Church as its fiscal agent. Last summer, a dozen workers maintained 67 properties during an eight-week period, helping to keep the neighborhood tidy and assisting residents with chores they can’t manage on their own. Capitol Heights is located on the west side, between Congress Street and Capitol Drive, and 60 and 68 Streets.
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Antoinette Vaughn runs the Summer Youth Program in Capitol Heights and is the neighborhood’s Healthy Neighborhood coordinator. (Photo by Matthew Wisla)
The person-to-person interactions are the most rewarding parts of the program, said Antoinette Vaughn, Capitol Heights Healthy Neighborhood coordinator. “It brings older and younger generations together and shows workers that they can make a difference,” she said. “At the beginning the kids don’t know each other but by the end they bond like brothers.”
Rayshaun Perry, 20, worked on one of the crews. “I like that it’s a neighborhood thing and we’re out there with the people there. Plus for the workers it’s like a team where we are always there for each other,” he said.
Depending on their experience, workers are paid between $7.25 and $8.00 per hour.  Perry said he used his paycheck “to help my mom and pay for school.”  He is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Don Tate, the site supervisor for the program, trains workers in lawn care techniques and safe, proper use of lawn and garden equipment before they get busy cutting grass, trimming hedges, pulling weeds, edging along walkways and watering lawns. Tate taught shop at Milwaukee Public Schools for 24 years.
Tall, with an authoritative voice and demeanor, Tate has a reputation for earning respect from his young workforce. “Some start out the summer with an attitude like they don’t like being told what to do,” Tate said. “I tell them they need to understand the instructions and perform the task. If they do that, then each day I’ll just say hello to them in the morning and goodbye in the afternoon. Once they understand that we get along well.”
According to Russell, the training and experience workers receive are often invaluable. “They pick up skills that are transferable to future work in landscaping or running their own small business one day.”
Residents sign up at the beginning of the summer and pay a $25 fee to help defer equipment costs and support the program. They provide cold water for the workers and many pass out popsicles and other summertime treats. The workers come from Capitol Heights and other Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Vaughn has seen firsthand how the program helps strengthen the whole neighborhood. “Appearances and upkeep say a lot about a neighborhood and it makes a difference,” she said. The program started in 2010 and has expanded over the years. In the beginning four workers maintained 28 lawns and the program lasted just four weeks.
Russell highlighted the connection between programs such as the Summer Youth Program and neighborhood property values.
“When other residents see things being taken care of, it builds their confidence in their neighborhood so they are more willing to invest in their property. As more residents invest, property values increase and neighborhoods get stronger.”

created: September 16, 2014


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Grants support visible improvements in neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Zilber Family Foundation
September 17, 2014
The board of directors of the Zilber Family Foundation announced two grants totaling nearly $800,000 in support of projects that will improve the physical appearance and economic vitality of neighborhoods. The grants invest in a multipart strategy to improve housing conditions in the Clarke Square and Layton Boulevard West neighborhoods and support a commercial development project along North Avenue in Lindsay Heights.
“The physical conditions in neighborhoods have a demonstrated impact on factors such as social relationships, health outcomes, safety, and child development. Investments in developing and preserving homes and buildings will have far reaching positive effects on the quality of life in neighborhoods,” said Susan Lloyd, executive director of the Zilber Family Foundation.
A grant of $299,000 over two years to Layton Boulevard West Neighbors will support home improvement strategies with matching grants for exterior home repairs in the Clarke Square and Layton Boulevard West neighborhoods. “With continued support from the Zilber Family Foundation, we will connect neighbors with resources to renovate their homes that will result in enhanced neighborhood appearance, stabilized home values, and bolstered community pride and confidence,” said Charlotte John-Gomez, executive director of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors.
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A second project will anchor the Lindsay Heights commercial corridor along North Avenue and attract more than $6 million of investment. Walnut Way Conservation Corporation was awarded $500,000 for phase one development of the Innovations and Wellness Commons, a catalytic project to redevelop North Avenue between 16th and 17th Streets. When both phases of construction are completed, the Commons will provide access to social services, economic development programs, job opportunities, and new businesses committed to meeting the needs of the neighborhood. “The Zilber grant will make a tremendous difference,” said Sharon Adams, program director at Walnut Way.
A community-based nonprofit organization, Walnut Way is working with a development team that includes Baker Tilly; CG Schmidt; Mayer Helminiak Architects; Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren; and, Juli Kaufmann of Fix Development. “Phase one of the Commons will return a locally significant property to productive use, enhance community health and safety, and bring jobs and outside investment to our neighborhood.”
“The board of directors of the Zilber Family Foundation understands the important function that physical development plays in neighborhood stabilization and revitalization,” said Susan Lloyd, executive director of the Zilber Family Foundation. “The board is pleased to support these organizations as they strategically invest in and improve the conditions in Milwaukee neighborhoods.”

author: Zilber Family Foundation


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Staffing company insists on strict dress code for job seekers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
September 17, 2014
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A Milwaukee County Transit System spokesperson says the agency is “very pleased to see the high ridership” on Route 6 to New Berlin. Riders hope the routes will offer more access to jobs.
[Read More]
Job seekers attending an employer information session at the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin offices last month were presented with a strict dress code and other rules they needed to follow to get an in-person interview at BuySeasons, an employer in New Berlin.
A representative of Hatch Staffing Services, which hires for BuySeasons, handed out an information sheet listing the following “dress code requirements” for those seeking in-person interviews.
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Khaki pants must be worn –NO JEANS allowed of any kind or color.
Plain red collared shirt (long or short-sleeved) at all times in the building – No writing allowed on shirts; v-neck, sleeveless or cut-off shirts are not allowed – this includes tank tops.
No name brand apparel of any kind (i.e. Nike, Adidas, etc.) – this includes footwear.
No hooded sweatshirts or sweatshirts with pockets.
Absolutely NO tennis shoes are allowed.
Jewelry is not allowed in the building with the exception of a wedding band.
In addition, “cell phones are not allowed in the building – No exceptions,” the flier reads.
“You will not be allowed in the building if you do not adhere to the dress code or facility policies mentioned above.”
BuySeasons is an online retailer and supplier of costumes, accessories, seasonal décor and party supplies. Jobs at BuySeasons pay $8 to $11 per hour.
“These are Hatch Staffings’ rules, not BuySeasons’ rules,” said Eric Becher, sales director at Hatch Staffing Service.
Discussing the rules, Becher said that while some people from the central city want to work and are willing to do whatever is necessary, including traveling an hour and a half each way on the bus, some people don’t really want to work. “They are smart and they know how to work the system,” he said.
Rev. Willie Brisco, president of Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), took exception to Becher’s comments. “(Some people) look at the whole population and generalize” from the behavior of a few to the whole group. Whenever you do that, you are not getting an accurate picture,” he said.
“A far larger part of the community wants what every American wants… They want to get a job and earn a living and they need to be given access to do that,” he added.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 20, 2014

created: September 20, 2014


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Corey Zetts appointed Acting Executive Director of Menomonee Valley Partners | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Menomonee Valley Partners
September 18, 2014
The Board of Directors of Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc. today appointed Corey Zetts the Acting Executive Director of Menomonee Valley Partners effective immediately. Zetts has been with Menomonee Valley Partners since 2005, currently serving as the organization’s Associate Director. Laura Bray, who has served as Executive Director of MVP since 2004, was named today as the incoming CEO of BIOforward, Inc., the Wisconsin trade association that works to advance Wisconsin’s position as a leading life science community. Bray will continue to serve MVP in an advisory capacity until she begins her new position on November 17th.
Corey earned her Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As MVP’s Associate Director, Zetts has led diverse projects including real estate development and business recruitment, infrastructure and sustainable design planning, habitat restoration, public art and community engagement. She has been instrumental in the recruitment of new businesses to the Valley, creation of Three Bridges Park, completion of the Hank Aaron State Trail, and establishment of the Menomonee Valley branch of the Urban Ecology Center.
Through the efforts of Menomonee Valley Partners and its many public and private partners, the Valley has undergone an economic and environmental transformation in the last 15 years. In that time, 40 companies have relocated or expanded, 5,000 jobs have been created, 45 acres of park have been developed, and miles of riverbank along the Menomonee River have been restored. A Public Policy Forum report documenting the lessons learned from the Valley will be released on Monday, September 22nd.
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While 300 acres of vacant, contaminated land has been successfully redeveloped, there are many similarly challenging properties remaining throughout the 1200-acre Valley. Last year, the City of Milwaukee and Menomonee Valley Partners launched Valley 2.0, a market study and land use plan to engage the community in envisioning the next decade of revitalization and to understand what investments are necessary to continue the Valley’s remarkable rate of private sector growth.
“The Valley has been an incredible success to date, but there is much work ahead,” said Zetts. “Throughout the Valley, there are 70 acres poised for redevelopment in the heart of the city, and this means significant potential for further job creation, environmental restoration and improved connections to surrounding neighborhoods.”
“The Valley’s success is the result of bold vision, strong planning, and collaboration across public and private sectors,” said Mick Hatch, Menomonee Valley Partners Board President. “Our Board, staff and many collaborators are dedicated to continuing the Valley’s transformation under Corey’s leadership.”
Throughout 2014, the organization has led the Valley 2.0 planning and an organizational strategic planning process. Both will conclude within six months, at which time Menomonee Valley Partners will develop a long-term staffing plan to meet the needs and opportunities in the Valley and surrounding communities.
“There is important work ahead to chart the course for the next series of transformative projects in the Valley,” said Laura Bray. “MVP has a great Board and a great staff that will continue to flourish under Corey’s leadership. My focus over the next few weeks will be to raise the final 5% of funding to close the Menomonee Valley – From the Ground Up campaign.”
From the Ground Up is a comprehensive effort of the Urban Ecology Center and Menomonee Valley Partners in partnership with the State and City that addresses access to jobs, science education, environmental and public health, and neighborhood vitality. Projects have included expanding the Hank Aaron State Trail by six miles, creating Three Bridges Park, the Valley Passage and the Menomonee Valley branch of the Urban Ecology Center. The $25 million campaign has just $1.3 million left to raise.

created: September 18, 2014

author: Menomonee Valley Partners


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New bus routes from city to suburbs ‘off to a good start’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
September 18, 2014
Hopeful job applicants get off the bus at BuySeasons on South Moorland Road in New Berlin, at the end of the new MCTS Route 6. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
For three months Marquel Lucas took a bus from near 60 Street and Fond du Lac Avenue to the end of the line in Hales Corners and then walked for an hour and a half to his job.
With the recent addition of the Route 6 bus, he can now board at 60 and Capitol, a five-minute walk from his home, and ride all the way to the last stop at BuySeasons in New Berlin. From there, it is a short walk to Trulite Glass & Aluminum Solutions, 5700 S. Moorland Rd., where his regular shift starts at 7 p.m.
“A lot of people in Milwaukee, in the inner city (don’t drive). Some people have suspended licenses. You’ve got a lot of nice manufacturing companies out here that need people and need production. By this bus being out here, it makes it happen for us,” Lucas said.
He travels out of the city because he can earn higher wages and also work a significant number of overtime hours at time-and-a-half, Lucas said.
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“(At Trulite) they start you off at $11 an hour. I’ve had jobs that pay a little bit better but a lot of jobs in Milwaukee pay a lot less. A lot of jobs in Milwaukee start you off at $8 or $7.75 an hour.”
Nevertheless, the commute has its challenges. Lucas missed the 7:55 a.m. bus from New Berlin after working overtime on a recent Wednesday. He had to wait three hours for the next bus to the city.
The Milwaukee County Transit System launched two new bus routes in August between the central city and two suburbs where many employers are located. Route 6 runs west on Capitol Drive to Mayfair Road and then south to Brookfield Square and Moorland Road, stopping at FedEx and ending at BuySeasons.
Route 279 runs from Burleigh Street and Fond Du Lac Avenue north to 76th Street and northwest to Menomonee Falls via Highway 145.
In the first two and a half weeks of service, Route 6 has carried up to 280 rides per day while Route 279’s highest number has been 77 rides per day, according to Jacqueline Janz, chief marketing and communications officer for MCTS.
“It takes about a year for a route to reach its peak ridership per day,” she said. Only then can MCTS provide ridership data that reflects an accurate picture of what is happening on a bus line, Janz added.
“We are very pleased to see the high ridership on Route 6 so early. We believe BuySeasons and FedEx currently hiring personnel has boosted those numbers,” Janz said. She added that ridership on Route 279 is off to a good start and is meeting expectations for this early stage.
Jovan Armstrong (left) and Frederick Williams take the new Route 6 bus from the first stop at Port Washington Road and Capitol Drive to the last stop at BuySeasons in New Berlin to apply for jobs. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
On a recent weekday morning, between 15 and 20 people rode the Route 6 bus to New Berlin to work or apply for jobs. The 9:20 a.m. ride took 78 minutes. Frederick Williams, 34, and Jovan Armstrong, 30, were travelling together to apply for jobs at BuySeasons. They said they did not have access to computers to apply online and preferred to go in person in the hope of starting work that day.
Ronald Fillyaw, 24, took another bus from 35th and Juneau streets, near his home, to pick up the Route 6 bus. He has worked in New Berlin before, and rode with a cousin who had a car. This time, he was taking the bus to BuySeasons for an interview. BuySeasons is an online retailer and supplier of costumes, accessories, seasonal décor and party supplies.
Several days later, Williams said that he was not able to start working the first day because he had not brought an ID card, thinking that the photocopy of his ID that he took with him would suffice. BuySeasons also requires a drug screening that Williams underwent at another location in Brookfield. He said he did all that BuySeasons asked of him, making additional bus trips to Brookfield for the drug screening and to New Berlin to show his ID. He said he passed the drug test and hoped to begin work this week.
“I need to start working as soon as possible because I’ve got bills to pay,” said Williams who was laid off from his last job about two months ago.
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Job seekers attending an employer information session at the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin offices last month were presented with a strict dress code and other rules they needed to follow to get an in-person interview at BuySeasons, an employer in New Berlin.
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Armstrong said he was unable to start working the first day he went to BuySeasons because his ID was expired and he had to order a copy of his birth certificate from Illinois. When he receives it, he will apply for a Wisconsin state ID and expects to be able to start immediately in a seven-week temporary position paying about $8 per hour. He hopes that he will be able to get a permanent position once he has established a good work history with BuySeasons.
Williams, Armstrong and Fillyaw all said they have criminal records but have stayed out of trouble recently and have training and good work experience. Williams noted that he graduated from a Community Corrections Employment Program (CCEP), Project Return, and Big Step and has OSHA 10 and lead abatement certifications. Williams and Armstrong held jobs deconstructing buildings through Northcott Neighborhood House, they said.
BuySeasons has many job openings, according to Eric Becher, sales director for Hatch Staffing Services. FedEx in New Berlin is also hiring 175 permanent employees before Oct. 17 and 150 to 200 seasonal employees after that to work through Jan. 15. All employees will start at $10 an hour, according to Dan Andres, human services manager for FedEx.
The new routes came about after the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and Midwest Environmental Advocates filed a lawsuit on behalf of Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), and Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin (BHCW) against federal transportation agencies and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The suit alleged that the $1.7 billion Zoo Interchange Reconstruction and Expansion Project, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, did not adequately address the needs of persons who rely on public transit.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 17, 2014


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Walnut Way Harvest Day celebration highlights diverse flavors, local food | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Molly Rippinger
September 18, 2014
Harvest Day visitors watch as Kim Young, executive director of the Fondy Food Center, demonstrates how to turn farm-fresh green beans into an Asian-inspired dish. (Photo by Molly Rippinger).
Neighbors, families and friends gathered recently outside the Walnut Way Center for Harvest Day, an annual street festival celebrating the abundance of the growing season and the vitality of a historic Milwaukee neighborhood. Numerous food vendors helped showcase the community’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Fatah Noor, manager of Sogal Cafe, 1835 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, was at Harvest Day selling authentic Somali and East African dishes. “People love trying new things,” said Noor, who helped open Sogal Cafe three years ago with owner Aziz Ahmed. Noor commented that the Walnut Way event was a great opportunity to introduce her native cuisine to the neighborhood residents.
Noor was dishing up sambusas, a triangular pastry filled with seasoned beef and spices, along with a few traditional Somali stews. Attendees Imani Barnes, LaPrece Loreal and LaCherie Weathers enjoyed tasting the sambusas and agreed they were a delicious snack.
At a table next to Noor’s was Young Kim, executive director of the Fondy Food Center, who was busy cooking up batches of Chinese green beans for festivalgoers to taste. Maanaan Sabir, health programmer at Walnut Way, watched Kim as he prepared fresh ingredients from the Fondy Farmers Market during the cooking demonstration.
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Cameron Nash, an intern for the Garden 2 Market program, sells fresh produce grown in Walnut Way gardens at Harvest Day. (Photo by Molly Rippinger).
“We make green beans the same way at home,” said Sabir as he tasted one of Kim’s beans coated with the flavors of ginger, garlic, red chili peppers and soy sauce. “But now, we’re going to start adding some of these different, Asian ingredients.”
Hungry Harvest Day attendees also were drawn to the “That Salsa Lady” tent where Angela Moragne was busy encouraging people to scoop up a free sample of fresh and healthy salsa. Moragne and her daughter, Stevey Pitts — who is known as “That Salsa Lady”—have been vendors at Harvest Day since their family-owned enterprise first started in 2011.
“This is one of our favorite events,” said Moragne, who is affectionately known as the “Chip Chick” for her prowess at making highly addictive tortilla chips great for dipping in the company’s salsas. During summer months the salsas are made with up to 90 percent locally grown produce.
Alexandria Barnett, owner of the soon-to-open Wild Greens Cooperative at 9002 W. Silver Spring Drive, was also showcasing fresh local produce in her homemade chili. For Barnett, Harvest Day is an important opportunity to introduce her cooking and concept to the community.
“We specialize in delicious vegan, vegetarian and raw dishes,” said Barnett, who will be opening the Wild Greens storefront later this month.
Next to Barnett’s stand were interns from the Gardens 2 Market program selling fresh vegetables grown in the Walnut Way gardens. Intern Cameron Nash, a high school student from Lindsay Heights, has spent the last three months learning how to grow, harvest and sell Walnut Way’s fresh produce. “It’s hard work, but definitely worth the effort,” said Nash.
Sharon Adams, program director at Walnut Way, said she was delighted to see how much Harvest Day has grown since it began in 2000. “Each year there has been stability and growth in both talent and participation,” said Adams.
A few days after Harvest Day, Walnut Way had more to celebrate as the Zilber Family Foundation announced that the nonprofit organization has been awarded a $500,000 grant to help complete the first phase of the Innovations and Wellness Commons, which will restore a vintage building at 1615 W. North Ave. into a community resource center with access to educational programs, wellness practices and job opportunities.


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15077548360_857803922c_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 18, 2014


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Greater Together Challenge finalists tackle segregation with range of ideas | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
September 22, 2014
Ken Hanson, CEO of Hanson Dodge Creative, explains the Greater Together Challenge at an event in mid-June. (Photo by Patrick Leary)
Authors, teachers, artists and a state senator were among those who entered the Greater Together Challenge, an initiative intended to address a stubbornly high segregation rate, abject poverty and a host of other crippling social conditions facing African Americans in Milwaukee.
More than 130 ideas to dismantle segregation were submitted, of which 15 were selected as finalists. Some entries came from individuals, although most represented organizations, including 88.9 Radio Milwaukee and local non-profits.
“We are humbled by the quality of the ideas that have come out of this challenge, large and small, and are anxious to see them shared in a very public way,” said Chris Klein, president of AIGA Wisconsin, who designed the competition.
The finalists include a plan to produce and place an iconic poster symbolizing Milwaukee’s struggle with segregation, to a long-range effort to provide educators with training that will help them teach in an anti-racist, multi-cultural way.
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James Hall, president of the Milwaukee chapter of the NAACP, speaks at a gathering to launch the Greater Together initiative. (Photo by Patrick Leary)
The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize to support the idea. Greater Together will also help with implementation of the winning proposal.
Nichole Yunk-Todd’s idea is to create a program that would offer all public school students the ability to take driver’s education classes for free. A “Universal Driver’s Education” program, said Yunk-Todd, would open up the city to teens who don’t usually venture out of their segregated neighborhoods.
“You don’t have to travel to another country to see other cultures; we have very different realities right down the highway,” said Yunk-Todd, who works in the division of policy and workforce development for Wisconsin Community Services.
Yunk-Todd’s idea would involve a collaborative effort among her organization, the Center for Driver’s License Recovery & Employability, Legal Action of Wisconsin, the City of Milwaukee and MATC.
Licenses would make it easier for teens to interact socially with youth in other neighborhoods, thus helping to create a less segregated atmosphere, she said.
A proposal by Jeanne Henry, also known as Grrl Jeanius, also made the cut. Henry, who runs a consulting company, wants teens using technology, art and social activism to conduct several “public disruptions,” increasing awareness about issues they’re dealing with including segregation and social and economic disparity.
“It’s kind of a cultural critique from a youth perspective,” said Henry, who added that the process helps youth become problem solvers.
Henry, who left Milwaukee for college 20 years ago and returned recently, found that not much had changed. “The neighborhoods are still divided up the same way as it was when I left,” she said.
That inspired her to enter the challenge, and involving youth was a way for her to get back to her roots, she said. She spent several years as a program director with AmeriCorps.
Henry said the Greater Together initiative has much promise. “It has a chance to really change things.”
James Hall, president of the Milwaukee chapter of the NAACP, agreed. “In my years as an advocate, nothing has made me as hopeful that Milwaukee may be ready to confront issues of segregation as this initiative and the coalition that’s been formed,” Hall said.
Confronting lingering issues such as segregation, and increasing diversity are the keys to the city’s long-term prosperity, said Ken Hanson, CEO of Hanson Dodge Creative, who launched the Greater Together Challenge.
“Businesses in Milwaukee are stepping up, community leaders are stepping up, but this problem is still very real,” Hanson said

created: September 22, 2014


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 21, 2014

created: September 21, 2014


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10 tips to consider when caring for a loved one with dementia | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Community Care
September 23, 2014
To mark Alzheimer’s Awareness month this September, Wisconsin-based Community Care, Inc., a non-profit coordinated care organization that specializes in caring for the elderly with day centers and offices in Milwaukee, is providing 10 general tips to family and friends who have made the decision to care for a loved one with dementia.
The American Alzheimer’s Association estimates 5 million people in the U.S. live with Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, and 15.5 million family and friends provide more than 17 billion unpaid hours of care annually.
“The decision to care for a loved one with dementia almost always relates to providing them with a better quality of life in a home setting,” said Dr. Mary Gavinski, the chief medical officer at Community Care. “Caring for someone with the illness is no easy task, especially as it progresses, but it is certainly possible depending on the severity of the illness. There are several things you can do to make the situation easier; it can be very helpful to find a geriatric-certified physician who can work with you closely as the illness progresses.”
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Find out as much about the illness as you can before taking on the responsibility of care giving. The more you understand about the illness, the easier it will be to care for your loved one. You’ll also be better prepared to decide on a care approach. The American Alzheimer’s Association offers extensive information to potential care givers.
Join a dementia support group, especially early on, to be around others going through the same situation and to get support, resources and tips.
Some people with dementia can communicate in the present for a long time, but as the illness progresses your loved one may have trouble separating the real world from their invented world.
“If they’re in the room with you at the present time, that’s great,” said Dr. Gavinski. “But if they think they are with their brother, mother or niece or believe they are living in the 1930s – be there with them, too.”
Regardless of where they are in their communication abilities, be calm, supportive and non-confrontational.
Take things slowly when communicating with your loved one. Avoid being argumentative or negative and always explain things as simply as possible using familiar words. Loved ones with dementia are more likely to respond positively if you speak in a friendly tone and greet them with a smile.
“If you’re trying to get your loved one to do something like take a bath, take it slowly with them,” said Dr. Gavinski. “Ask them if they want to, and if they don’t, back off and ask again in five minutes.”
Maintain a regular schedule that keeps your loved one active. Limit napping throughout the day to encourage sleeping through the night. As the illness progresses, you’ll want to make sure he or she is eating, sleeping and using the restroom appropriately.
The physician will be able to help you understand where your loved one is in the dementia progression and what to expect. He or she will also be able to educate you on available treatments, and to discuss the pros and cons of each.
In order to care for a loved one with dementia, you’ll need help from friends and family. Set up a circle of support that you can lean on when you need help – physically or emotionally.
Unfortunately, dementia is a terminal illness. It’s important to develop an advanced care plan as early as possible to give your loved one an opportunity to make his or her goals, care choices and treatment preferences known, both verbally and in writing, and help identify a surrogate who would make those decisions on his or her behalf if your loved one no longer has decision-making capacity.
“You’ll want to consider the different options and the pros and cons of each,” said Dr. Gavinski. “As you go through the process, you should always ask yourself whether each option brings quality to your loved one’s life and is consistent with any wishes they have expressed.”
Know that caring for a loved one with dementia is a 24 hour a day job. In order to properly care for someone else, make sure you’re not compromising your mental and physical health. Make time to eat, sleep and spend leisure time on your own.
“You won’t wear down as fast and you might be able to take care of your loved one for a longer period of time,” said Dr. Gavinski.
As the illness progresses, providing care to a loved one will become increasingly more difficult.
“If you can’t do it anymore, it’s alright,” said Dr. Gavinski. “Sometimes it’s necessary for your loved one to enter a substitute care facility, if their care needs become too great for you. This can assist with care needs and allow the time you spend with them to be quality time. Do what is right for your loved one, yourself and your family.”
Headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., Community Care, Inc. is a private nonprofit organization that serves the long-term care and health needs of more than 10,000 older adults and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1977, Community Care is the only Wisconsin managed care organization to offer all three programs of Family Care, Family Care Partnership and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). The organization provides care in the 11 eastern Wisconsin counties of Calumet, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Waupaca. For more information about Community Care, visit www.communitycareinc.org.

created: September 23, 2014

author: Community Care


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Construction skills program for adults seeks to return to an MPS school | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
September 23, 2014
Ezzard White (left), the founder of One Hope Made Strong, was invited to speak at a Community JOBS Fair at North Division High School on Monday. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Ezzard White, founder of One Hope Made Strong (OHMS), is hoping to get approval to move his skilled trades education classes for adults back into a Milwaukee public school, but whether that happens or not, he said he will continue the program.
“Even if I have to purchase a tent or go out on a lawn or in a park, I’m going to be teaching these students these skilled trades,” he said.
Milwaukee Public Schools expelled OHMS from North Division High School in the middle of a term last June and White finished his spring/summer classes at two central city churches where he started the program in fall 2013.
Like North Division, the Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education (SCTE) has unused industrial technology labs that would give OHMS’ low-income adult students opportunities for hands-on learning. Program leaders are seeking an agreement to teach classes there.
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“We are talking with the right people,” said Pastor Theresa Thomas-Boyd, who explained that OHMS leaders had discussed the issue recently with an MPS regional superintendent. Thomas-Boyd is a co-pastor of Matters of the Heart Christian Ministries and a leader of the OHMS program.
One Hope Made Strong classes were taught at North Division High School until the program was asked to leave in June. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
White said he and Thomas-Boyd met recently with Reginald Lawrence, MPS regional superintendent for the west region, about moving the program to the Obama School, at 5075 N. Sherman Blvd. in Sherman Park.
White added that Interim Superintendent Darienne Driver approached him at a school board meeting last week and told him she planned to contact him to talk about the program. Driver confirmed that she “is anxious to talk to Mr. White about the program.”
MPS spokesman Tony Tagliavia said OHMS was asked to leave North Division because the contract White had signed with its after-school and adult education division, Milwaukee Recreation, was invalid. Tagliavia indicated that White was ineligible to enter into a contract with MPS. Wisconsin Court System records available online show that White has two felony convictions, in 1992 and 1993.
White taught electricity, electronics and electrical math at Milwaukee Trade & Technical High School, now called Bradley Tech, and another MPS school for 12 years, before his 1992 conviction.
Michael Bonds, president of the Milwaukee School Board, said the board revised its policy on criminal background screening last week. A copy of the new policy provided by the Office of Board Governance shows that the most significant change is the addition of an opportunity for a job candidate rejected as a result of a criminal conviction to file a written appeal with MPS’s Office of Human Capital.
Driver said that the policy change was unrelated to White.
According to Tagliavia, White applied as “Charles White” on an application form MPS uses for background checks. White signed his legal name, Ezzard Charles White, on the contract, prompting “a background check using the correct name,” Tagliavia wrote in an email.
White said he might have inadvertently used his middle name, Charles, on the application, “but there was never any intent to hide my name. It’s all in the public record. Some people call me Charles and I sometimes use Charles with them.” He said a former student who works at Milwaukee Recreation calls him Charles.
In late August, officials from the National League of Cities and My Brothers Keeper, a White House initiative to address opportunity gaps faced by young men of color, came to the Barack Obama School to hear about the OHMS program. Principal Maurice Turner praised the program at that event. “(Turner) was 100 percent supportive of it,” White said.
Asked why the Barack Obama school was chosen to highlight the OHMS program, Tagliavia wrote, “Theresa Thomas-Boyd of One Hope Made Strong took out a permit to bring guests into Obama SCTE for an event on August 26, 2014, to discuss these types of programs. Mr. Turner was present to host the guests scheduled to visit the building.”
Despite repeated attempts, MPS would not allow Turner to speak to an NNS reporter. “It would not be appropriate to talk to the principal at this time about the program since no decision has been made regarding the program,” Tagliavia wrote in an email.
White said he plans to resume classes at the program’s original location, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1927 N. 4th St., next week, if he does not get the green light from MPS. He added that students have been calling him regularly asking when the program will start. About 275 are enrolled, according to White.
OHMS student Mark Thomas said he has taken six of the nine modules and looks forward to completing the program in November. An unemployed welder, Thomas said he wants to broaden his skills in the hope of finding work. He added, “I will go wherever Mr. White goes” to finish the program.
“I believe in what I’m doing,” White said. “What I am doing is good and it works for the community.”


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
September 22, 2014


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Future Of Local Construction Skills Program Uncertain | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
September 24, 2014
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporter Andrea Waxman spoke with Lake Effect’s Mitch Teich about what’s in store for One Hope Made Strong.
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created: September 24, 2014

author: Dwayne Burtin


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
September 24, 2014