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OPINION: Youth crime will not change until we change our approach | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Vaun Mayes
February 3, 2021
Vaun Mayes (left) leads a Sherman Park cleanup with a youth ambassador in 2017. (Photo by Gab Taylor)
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Vaun Mayes is a social justice and civil rights activist in Milwaukee and the co-founder of Program the Parks MKE.
There is a saying that people closest to the problem are often the closest to the solution.
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In our community, there is a need for a very specific group of people to be at the forefront in addressing a very specific problem. We have the expertise and experience to deal with the population and their circumstances.
This is the issue of troubled and at-risk youth in Milwaukee who are involved in the criminal element we see day to day — stealing cars, car chases, “base lining” and reckless driving. These are usually accompanied by other crimes, such as illegally possessing weapons, and can even lead to shootings.
This population of youth and families are not reached by standard programs. There are levels to what “troubled or at-risk youth” look like, depending on the program and which organization is leading the work. Many programs accept students who live in challenged communities, but only with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. But what about the population of students with deep-seated traumas and dysfunction at home, which leads to behavioral issues, failure in school, suspensions and dropping out?
In 2016,  Gab Taylor and I created Program the Parks, which assessed and addressed youth incidents in Sherman Park by bringing in community leaders, parents, resources and programs. We connected with youth previously left to their own devices, outside of over-policing after being turned away from youth programs.
This led to a dramatic drop in crime, violence and police calls for service in the park and the general area of Sherman Park, as well as decreasing youth participation in fights, driving in stolen cars, stealing, etc.
We provided solutions to the issues that caused problems. For instance, thefts were occurring at businesses surrounding the park because young people had no other access to meals or water. Providing meals, snacks and drinks brought down thefts from local stores.
In 2017, we got access to a building and scaled up our programming. We saw similar success, but we were unable to sustain the space due to lack of financial investment and access to grant funding.
Which brings us to 2021. We continue to see unacceptable levels of youth engaging in crime, violence, reckless driving and stolen cars. These are not new issues, nor is the work needed to solve them.
Others have impacted these issues positively, but in silos. For example, Andre Lee Ellis via We Got This and Victor and Dawn Barnett via Running Rebels have mentored and guided at-risk young people, making a positive impact on their behaviors.
However, I don’t believe we’ve taken enough advantage of each other’s strengths.
In the coming months, I will be leading an effort to plan a community-driven and community-led facility. The details are currently being developed in close collaboration with community members.
It’s time to bring our resources and skills together under one roof. This is how I believe we can achieve the goal we need to see as a city.
If you want to be part of the solution, I invite you to join us. You can connect through the Community Task Force MKE Facebook page or e-mail us at comforcemke@gmail.com

author: Vaun Mayes


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 2, 2021

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: February 2, 2021

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

author: Adam Carr


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PHOTOS: What ‘Phobruary’ looks like in 2021 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers, Adam Carr & Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 3, 2021
Each “Phobruary,” three Silver City restaurants fill bowl after bowl with pho, a Southeast Asian soup originating from Vietnam. Despite being unable to offer a dine-in option this year, the restaurants are keeping the tradition alive by offering “pho to go.”
While the dish has staple ingredients — noodles, broth, bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, lime and more — each restaurant has its own way of preparing a bowl of the soup. So, in the above gallery, we decided to give our readers (and potential eaters) a look at what an order of pho looks like from each spot.
The three restaurants are Bamboo at 3427 W. National Ave.; Thai Bar-B-Que at 3417 W. National Ave.; and Vientiane Noodle Shop at 3422 W. National Ave.
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For the first time in its eight-year history, “Phobruary” does not include $5 bowls of pho. Regular price bowls of pho range from $6.99 to $13.95. However, VIA  (formerly Layton Boulevard West Neighbors) is hosting a weekly “Pho To Go” raffle for participating diners throughout February.
In case you missed it:

created: February 3, 2021


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Post from Community: Voting begins in UScellular’s fifth annual Black History Month art contest | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UScellular
February 3, 2021
These eight youth artworks are in this year’s competition. (Photos provided by UScellular)
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
UScellular announced today that public voting is now open in the company’s fifth annual Black History Month Art Contest with Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee.
For the first time, voting is available online, and the Milwaukee community can visit go to https://www.uscellular.com/artcontest and click on the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee to vote for their favorite piece of original art.
In January, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee members created artwork in recognition of influential Black people from around the globe, including historical figures, world leaders, athletes and celebrities. Voting will remain open through Feb. 28, and anyone 18 or older can vote once for their favorite.
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The top three vote-getters winners will be announced in March and prizes include gift cards in the following amounts:
“We are once again thrilled to work with Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee on this annual contest to honor Black icons and showcase youth in our community,” said Kristy Baron, Director of Sales and Operations at UScellular. “This year’s art certainly highlights the artistic talent among the Club members. We encourage the community to check out the art and vote online, and we look forward to celebrating the winners in March.”
The public can vote for their favorite artwork at: https://uscellular.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0jsT1KP3vaVtwZo
No Purchase Necessary. Entrants who are minors must have parental consent to participate in the Contest. Official Contest Rules, including full entry details and Finalist and Winner selection criteria/voting are available by email request to katie.frey@uscellular.com.

author: UScellular


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 3, 2021


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Hundreds of MPS students struggle to find affordable driver’s ed classes during pandemic | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
February 4, 2021
Before MPS Drive existed, COA Youth and Family Centers offered scholarships to help pay for driver’s education. Here, Joshua Leonard, shown in 2015, gets into his family’s car after participating in COA’s program. (File photo by Brendan O’Brien)
More than 800 students have been left without affordable driver’s education through Milwaukee Recreation because of reduced class sizes brought on by COVID-19 precautions.
To combat this, Milwaukee Recreation opened an online option that has served over 300 students, still leaving 500-plus to find driver’s education elsewhere.
MPS Drive, Milwaukee Recreation’s driver’s education program for MPS students, is notable due to its affordability, costing only $35 for learner’s permit classes and in-person driving instruction. Comparable programs typically cost more than $300.
Since opening in spring 2016, the program has served more than 6,262 students. One of them was Raymond Taylor Jr., who is now a senior but enrolled in MPS Drive as a sophomore. He said his main motivation for enrolling in driver’s education was because having a license opens up employment opportunities and transportation options.
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“The high school ID isn’t going to get you very far after high school,” Taylor said.
His aunt, Lethia McDaniel, said she enrolled Taylor in MPS Drive because the price was much lower than anything else she could find.
“The thing that stood out most to me was the price. I have other children, and you can’t beat the $35 price when other places run between $300 [and] $800,” McDaniel said.
MPS Drive did not exist when McDaniel’s daughter was looking for driver’s education,      and since alternatives were so expensive, McDaniel’s daughter studied on her own and got her license at 18.
“I didn’t have a well-paying job at the time, so I taught her myself,” McDaniel said. “We went to the DMV and grabbed a book. We studied together, passed the permit test, and when she was 18, she took the driving test and got her license.”
Cost is a major barrier to people under 18 getting driver’s education. In its final report last June, the City-County Carjacking and Reckless Driving Task Force recommended expanding MPS Drive into all schools and making it a required course.
However, MPS Drive in-person class sizes have been reduced from 25 students per class to only nine. This drop in available slots led Milwaukee Recreation to offer an online class in the spring.
Milwaukee Recreation officials said that while reduced in-person class sizes have resulted in 839 fewer teens taking the class since spring, 307 have taken advantage of the online class that launched in spring 2020.
Jodie Donabar, driver’s education supervisor at Milwaukee Recreation, said she is hopeful that class sizes will increase to 15 in the spring and 25 by summer.
Donabar said that getting larger class sizes approved and funded is important, because without affordable driver’s education, families might skip driver’s education altogether.
“You’re gonna find students who just drive because they can’t afford to pay for class,“ Donabar said. “Which leads to not knowing the rules of the road, and that’s where they learn their bad habits.”
Nichole Yunk Todd, director of policy and research at Wisconsin Community Services and a member of the task force, was among the early advocates for funding affordable driver’s education through MPS. In 2014, her idea to provide free driver’s education classes to each MPS student won the Greater Together Challenge, a contest for ideas on how to address segregation in Milwaukee.
The MPS program is not big enough to serve every MPS student.
“It is not a matter of more research or studies, it’s about making driver’s education affordable,” Yunk Todd said.
The City-County Carjacking and Reckless Driving Task Force, a committee of government officials and community members studying solutions to carjacking and reckless driving, recommended expanding access to driver’s education as a way of combating reckless driving. Specifically, the task force recommended increasing funding for driver’s education programs in Milwaukee Public Schools and to making driver’s education accessible to all income levels.
For students unable to get into MPS Drive classes, their next shot at affordable driver’s education may be after they turn 18. The Milwaukee Urban League offers a virtual driver’s license permit class that meets four times for 90 minutes. The class is designed to help participants pass the learner’s permit test and learn to drive legally, free of charge.
Milwaukee Urban League’s enrollment surged in 2020, nearly doubling compared with 2019. Classes often include 18-year-olds who missed out on driver’s ed earlier, but also older adults often referred to the class by employment services or probation and parole.
Sakuri Fears, program manager at Milwaukee Urban League, said the intent initially behind this program was to help residents get transportation — a big barrier to employment, especially for higher-paying jobs in the suburbs. Nevertheless, Fears said, the program still catches young adults who were unable to enroll in MPS Drive.
“I think having that available to them has been a good additional resource to MPS,” Fears said. “With MPS being constricted in how many slots they have, us being able to capture that slightly older high school population with our permitting class has been pretty useful.”
At the end of the day for Yunk Todd, it is about getting consistent funding for young people.
“It’s almost a consensus issue right now that driver’s education is at the top of solutions to multiple problems,” she said. “It’s really just a matter of committing to funding it at this point.”

created: February 4, 2021

author: Sam Woods


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Post from Community: Wisconsin Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly Hamilton will lead course at Alverno | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
February 4, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Alverno College is offering a series of courses designed to help people embrace change, and learn how to harness the power of creativity to inspire change within themselves and in the greater community. Led by Wisconsin Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly Hamilton, the Spark Series is a new virtual program from Alverno’s School of Adult Learning and New Initiatives, and students who complete the entire program will earn a professional certificate.
Hamilton is a writer, performance artist, curator and facilitator who leverages the creative process to bring about human and social wellness. She has written for national magazines, produced three collections of poetry, recorded four spoken word CDs, and published two novels. Through her non-profit, Still Waters Collective, Hamilton has created literary arts programming for 20 years, and her work has taken her to Botswana, Beirut and the island of Mauritius. “When we think about changing anything – our jobs, our hair color, last names, routines – we tend to start at ‘when.’ But authentic and lasting change begins with an examination of ‘how and why,’” said Hamilton. “My life’s work has been realigning individuals and initiatives to purpose and progress. I’ve enjoyed translating my three decades of experience and advice as a creative change agent into a hands-on series about managing and effecting change, especially at this time.”
The virtual course consists of six units lasting five weeks each. Registration is open to women and men, and no college degree is required to enroll. Classes begin February 23, and students may enroll in a specific unit or the entire series. Discounted tuition is available to members of nonprofit organizations. For more information or to register visit alverno.edu/spark.
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About Alverno College
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.
A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.
Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

author: Alverno College


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DashaKellyHamilton-1200-px.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 4, 2021

author: Name *


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5 things to do and know the weekend of Feb. 5 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 5, 2021
The Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Rd., is having a family free day from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. (Photo provided by Milwaukee County Zoo.)
Editor’s note: Before going to an in-person event, please check to see if venue will be open this weekend because of the expected winter storm.
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Family free day at the Milwaukee County Zoo: Saturday, Feb. 6
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The Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Rd., is having a family free day from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. Admission is free but parking and concessions fees still apply. Advanced registration is not required but occupancy is limited.
2. Amani United inauguration: Saturday, Feb. 6
Amani United recently held its elections in which Amani residents vote for the organization’s officers, ambassadors and youth council members. Over 400 votes were cast this year. The group will be sworn in by Appellate Court Judge Maxine White. The inauguration ceremony will take place virtually at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. The ceremony will be live-streamed on Microsoft Teams; links can be found on the Amani United Facebook Page and Dominican Center website.
3. Century City blood drive: Sunday, Feb. 7
Good City Brewing and the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin are hosting a blood drive as part of the blood center’s Sickle Cell-Abration. The Versiti Mobile Bus will be located at 3945 N. 31st St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7. To sign up, call 877-232-4376 or click here.
4. Step-by-step beginners acrylic painting class: Sunday, Feb. 7
The Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall is hosting an in-person and virtual step-by-step beginners acrylic painting class. The class will take place in-person at 4511 S. 6th St., from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7. Those who select a virtual class will receive a pre-recorded class before the start time. Virtual participants can use their own supplies or purchase the complete package. Tickets can be found here.
5. Don’t forget it’s “Phobruary” and Black History Month!
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: February 5, 2021

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 4, 2021


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Post from Community: Help us honor your loved ones lost to the coronavirus pandemic | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Juanita Cobb
February 5, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
We’ve lost mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Although they have moved on, they are missed dearly and will never be forgotten.
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If you’re one of the many who has lost a loved one in Milwaukee to the Coronavirus pandemic, we’d like to help you honor their memory by going to  http://bit.ly/mkelovedones and sharing a remembrance, and a photo (optional) of your loved one that we can add to our community memorial.
We will be printing the memorial featuring your loved ones in a local Milwaukee newspaper. You can also help us by sharing this video to help encourage others to share memories of their loved ones.
Submissions are due by Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2021.
The memorial is organized by Jump at the Sun Consultants, LLC,  in partnership with Community Resilience MKE, the Lovell Johnson Quality of Life Center,  Black Leaders Advancing Health Equity, the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network and Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network.

author: Juanita Cobb


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Screenshot-2021-02-04-at-8.03.38-AM.png | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 5, 2021


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NNS on ‘Lake Effect’: 5 things to do and know this February in Milwaukee neighborhoods | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
February 5, 2021
America’s Black Holocaust Museum is planning programming throughout Black History Month. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM and Joy Powers of “Lake Effect” for the February installment of our monthly “5 Things” feature.
This month includes America’s Black Holocaust Museum digital events for Black History Month, MKE Black’s Black-owned food truck event, the “LOVE edition” of the 53212Marketplace from Riverworks, Urban Ecology Center’s Winterfest in Washington Park (now canceled because of weather) and “Phoburary” at three Silver City restaurants.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 4, 2021
“0203b2”. Released: 2021.


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Post from Community: Crossing the digital divide: Adult and family literacy students go online | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Literacy, Inc
February 5, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Neighborhood House’s International Learning Program (ILP) serves refugees from generally war torn countries. Many have never been to school nor held a pencil. Cynthia Zarazua, Program Manager of ILP shares, “Digital literacy skills have never been put to more use than they are now.” These students, even elderly refugees 60 or older, are learning remotely with Google Classroom, YouTube videos, online quizzes, and Zoom meetings.
In March 2020, the COVID pandemic shutdown in person tutoring.
These students refused to quit. They aren’t alone. In 2020, Wisconsin Literacy’s coalition of community-based literacy agencies taught nearly 16,000 adults and children. Currently, 1 in 7 Wisconsin adults are at the lowest literacy levels and struggle to fill out forms and follow printed and digital instructions.
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Adults with low literacy skills are extremely vulnerable to the current economic downturn from COVID-19 and need additional support. Community-based literacy agencies serve the hardest to reach students with the most barriers to success. They do so with the least amount of resources. Of the students with demographic information, 69% have household incomes at or below $25,000 annually and 87% are from communities of color, immigrants and refugees, and our Tribal Nations.  Many are essential workers or have lost employment in the hospitality or manufacturing industries.
Yet, they still continue to learn.
Many literacy students, don’t have internet or computer access in their homes. Students may be willing and eager to continue participating but they lack WIFI, tablets, or laptops to continue online education. Some have only their cellphone to work with, small data plans, and even more limited digital skills.
Jon Gilgenbach, Executive Director of the Adult Learning Center (ALC) in Milwaukee, commented, “There’s a big divide between people who don’t have the digital skills. We can’t just say meet online and we’ll figure it out, but have to be able to meet them here” in person at the center. If students can’t figure out how to fill out the online forms, staff at ALC talk them through it on the phone.
Literacy nonprofit agencies have to get their adult students’ laptops, Chromebooks, or tablets and solve connectivity issues as well. Through a contract partnership between Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. and the Department of Children and Families, some literacy programs were able to provide for loan refurbished laptops for students while they learn remotely. But the funding and resources for these community-based literacy agencies aren’t enough to meet this new demand.
“There will be an increased need for literacy services and job readiness skills, a need that the crisis has only magnified,” said Michele Erikson, Executive Director of Wisconsin Literacy. “If we do nothing to improve the literacy, numeracy, and digital problem-solving skills of Wisconsin’s workforce, we will see a decline in the health and earning power of our residents and the growth of our economy. We need to look at raising literacy levels to have a better recovery.”
To continue serving students, Wisconsin Literacy helped support the purchase of Zoom accounts and Internet Hotspots for those without access. The statewide agency also supported local literacy agencies needing to re-train current tutors for video conferencing, learning online and recruiting new tutors virtually. Training both existing and new tutors in online learning introduces them to how students might feel frustration or anxiety engaging in new technology for the first time.
Jon Gilgenbach from ALC tells his students, “This is how it is for everybody working right now. You are preparing yourselves for the modern work world.”
Literacy staff think creatively to get their students online and keep them engaged.
For those looking to support literacy programs near you, you can find how to volunteer, advocate and donate at wisconsinliteracy.org.
Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. is a statewide coalition supporting the work of 70 member agencies by providing resources, training, health literacy and advocacy services to help advance the skills of limited literacy adults and English language learners and their families. For more information: www.wisconsinliteracy.org or email Liz Fitzpatrick.

author: Wisconsin Literacy, Inc


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logo | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
February 8, 2021

created: February 8, 2021

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Post from Community: Milwaukee Health Department invites residents to join a virtual town hall meeting on COVID-19 vaccinations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee
February 5, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Milwaukee is taking the first step to Crush COVID-19. The City of Milwaukee Health Department wants to provide you with the latest verified info, so your family can make the best decision about taking the vaccine. Hear from local health experts who will separate myths from facts and share the latest info on the safety, process and timeline for the COVID-19 vaccine.
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Have a question for the panel? Register and submit your questions for the panel at http://bit.ly/CrushCovidTownHall
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/242457184138789
When & Where
Who


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 5, 2021


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‘The workload is through the roof’: How the closing of South Side station is affecting the Milwaukee Fire Department | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 5, 2021
Milwaukee Fire Department personnel respond to an emergency situation on the city’s South Side. “Resources declined, but calls for help have not been declining,” Acting Chief Aaron Lipski told residents last month at a community meeting. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
During a virtual community meeting hosted by the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission late last month, Aaron Lipski, acting chief of the Milwaukee Fire Department, sounded alarm bells of his own.
“We’re way, way extended beyond what our core missions are,” said Lipski, a fourth-generation firefighter who assumed the helm of the department in October when former chief Mark Rohlfing retired. “Because of structured obligations, we had to drop back from 30 to 29 engines to protect the 96 square miles of the city of Milwaukee.”
Although the Milwaukee Fire Department budget was increased by $7 million in 2021, compared with the previous year, the additional funds had to be used to cover an increase in the fringe benefit rate and not for operations, Lipski said.
As a result, the city closed one fire station.
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“We’re trimming expenses in every place we can,” Mayor Tom Barrett said during his 2021 Executive Budget address in September.
The Milwaukee Fire Department made the tough decision to close Station 17, located at 4653 S. 13th St., on Dec. 26.  In addition, 15 positions were eliminated through attrition, Lipski said. The move saved the city nearly $2 million dollars but put more pressure on a department that’s been spread increasingly thin over the past few years. Seven fire stations have been closed in the city since 2018, four located on the South Side.
According to data from annual Milwaukee Fire Department reports, Station 17 made 1,607 runs in 2019,  providing basic or advanced life support or responding to fires. That was up from 1,600 in 2018 and 1,545 in 2017. Those totals do not include responses in that area by paramedics. In total, the Milwaukee Fire Department answered 70,461 emergency medical services calls and 22,568 fire, rescue or service calls in 2019. Data for 2020 is not yet publicly available, but Lipski said it was the department’s busiest year ever.
“Resources declined, but calls for help have not been declining,” said Lipski, who reminded attendees of the community meeting that in addition to putting out flames, the department responds to all emergency situations. An increasing number of calls in 2020 dealt with violence, he said.
Other duties of the department include helping companies and community groups structure emergency responses, delivering smoke detectors to residents and other public services aimed at increased safety while decreasing reliance on the 911 system.
The department also is supporting COVID-19 vaccination efforts and serves as a key partner in the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative, also known as MORI.  MORI, which also involves the Milwaukee Health Department, West Allis Community Medical Services, CleanSlate Milwaukee and Project WisHope, is an initiative in which personnel from the Milwaukee Fire Department and peer specialists head to homes or hospitals to try and convince individuals who nearly died from a drug overdose to seek help.
“The workload is through the roof,” Lipski said.
Other fire stations in the area have expanded their territory to cover ground previously served by Station 17, as has been the case with other closures.  As a result, response times in the area surrounding Station 17 will be impacted, Lipski said in an email to NNS.
“Longer distances will need to be traveled by surrounding stations to get to the inner areas of what had previously been the area responded to out of Station 17. This translates to longer response times,” he said. “Our best predictive analysis shows that while there is an increase, there was not expected to be an extremely large increase, and we would still be able to respond within standards.”
Jennifer Wilson, who lives on the South Side, said she works with senior citizens and is worried about the impact the fire station closures will have on them and others.
“Sometimes they have accidents or emergencies that happen at home, and it’s the Fire Department who responds,” she said. “They run towards the danger while most of us run away from it, and those precious seconds could make all the difference in a critical situation.”
Lipski said the drop in resources and increase in demand is affecting his team’s morale.
“We have noted that we are seeing an increase in responder fatigue, compassion fatigue, and mental health concerns amongst our members,” he said.
Regardless, Lipski said, the department will not lower its high standards.
“We are up to the challenge and the community can still expect the excellent care and skill they’ve come to expect from the MFD,” he said.  “We are also looking for any means of reducing this strain on the shrinking resources.”

author: Edgar Mendez


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5 things to do and know this week in Milwaukee: Feb. 8 to Feb. 13 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 8, 2021
Milwaukee residents can now submit nominations for the annual Vel R. Phillips Trailblazer award. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by .
1. Virtual town hall: COVID-19 vaccine
The Milwaukee Health Department is hosting a virtual town hall regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The panel will be moderated by TMJ4 News Reporter Tony Atkins and feature Mayor Tom Barrett, Interim Health Commissioner Marliana Jackson and more. Questions and registration can be found here. The event will be streamed on the Milwaukee Health Department Facebook page and the City Channel (Spectrum Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10.  8 things you need to know about coronavirus vaccinations
2. “Lunch & Learn: Rooted in Afro-Latin American heritage”
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The Latino Arts’ series “Lunch & Learn” is celebrating Black History Month with a panel discussion on the topic of “Rooted in Afro-Latino American Heritage.” The discussion will explore Africa’s influence on Latin American culture from music and dance to medicine and religion and more. The conversation will take place on Facebook Live from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11.
3. Metcalfe Park Community Bridges: MPS School Board candidate forum
The MPS School Board elections are scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16. Metcalfe Park Community Bridges is hosting a community forum with the school board candidates for District 4. The conversation will take place on Facebook Live at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12.
4. Vel R. Phillips Trailblazer award nominations
Residents can submit nominations for the Vel R. Phillips Trailblazer award from now until Friday, Feb. 26. Each year, the award is given to a female city resident who exemplifies Phillip’s legacy. Phillips achieved many “firsts” in her lifetime, including being the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School; the first African American to be elected to the Milwaukee Common Council; the first female judge in Milwaukee; and the first African American judge in Wisconsin. The nomination must include a description of the nominee’s work in social justice and/or civic engagement and the challenges they have overcome. Additional information and nomination forms can be found here or by contacting Joanna Polanco at 414-286-2366 or jpolan@milwaukee.gov.
5. Ko-Thi Dance Company: youth dance class
Ko-Thi Dance Company is teaching an African dance class for youth ages 6 to 15. The class is being offered in person, but occupancy is limited and registration is required. The class will take place at Danceworks Studios, 1661 N. Water St., from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13. Click here to register.  NNS Spotlight: Milwaukee’s queen of dance still reigns supreme – even in retirement
Bonus: Check out community events for Black History Month.
The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 7, 2021

created: February 7, 2021


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The NNS coronavirus update for week of Feb. 8: New ways to register for vaccine; COVID-19 virtual town hall; Walgreens offering vaccinations | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
February 8, 2021
The Milwaukee Health Department will host a virtual town hall on COVID-19 vaccinations at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
The City of Milwaukee has launched a new webpage for residents to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The new registration options are meant for those who are eligible, including the 65+ population and first responders.
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The webpage includes a listing of people who are eligible, and a ‘Register Now’ button that redirects visitors to answer questions, check availability and make an appointment.
Spots have been filling up quickly for the registrations since the site launched due to high demand.
People can also call the COVID Vaccine Hotline at (414) 286-6800 or email ASKMHDCOVID19@milwaukee.gov.
People can also still sign up for updates and register at healthymke.com. Read: How residents 65 and older can register for a coronavirus vaccine
The Milwaukee Health Department will host a virtual town hall on COVID-19 vaccinations at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10.
The panel will feature Mayor Tom Barrett, interim Health Commissioner Marlaina Jackson, registered nurse and Milwaukee Board of Health member Julia Means and Heather Paradis, chief medical officer of the Milwaukee Health Department.
TMJ4 News’ Tony Atkins will moderate the discussion, which is expected to cover information about the vaccine’s safety, process and timeline.
Use this link to register for the Zoom meeting and input questions for the panel. There is also a Facebook event for the town hall.
The town hall will also be livestreamed on the Milwaukee Health Department’s Facebook page, on the City Channel (Spectrum Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99). A recording of the town hall will be available at https://city.milwaukee.gov/CovidVax.
The Milwaukee Common Council will vote on whether to confirm the nomination of Kirsten Johnson to be the city’s health commissioner on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
Johnson, the director and health officer of the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department, was nominated by Mayor Tom Barrett to replace Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik, who left the department in September. : How two Milwaukee natives are leading the city’s fight against COVID-19
Walgreens pharmacies across Wisconsin are set to receive roughly 18,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, starting Friday, Feb. 12.
Over 190 Walgreens locations will receive the vaccine, shipped by the federal government. But Greenfield Health Commissioner Darren Rausch but cautioned residents to remain patient because the vaccine will not be readily available.
“It doesn’t resolve all of the supply issues we’re experiencing, because if we divide these 18,000 doses across all of the Walgreens facilities in the state of Wisconsin . . . that means there’s only about 100 doses coming to each of those Walgreens,” Rausch said.
The vaccines are available by appointment only to those in eligible groups, and they have to be made online because there is no current phone option.
The Walgreens store locator can be used to find a pharmacy near you. There are roughly 18 in the city of Milwaukee itself, and several in the surrounding areas.
The Milwaukee Health Department issued a new public health order last week that expands indoor gathering limits to 250 people so long as everyone inside remains seated and follows mask requirements and other social-distancing guidelines. Bars and restaurants will be able to establish counter service with proper precautions as well.
The order also states that museums and public exhibitions might be re-opened with safety plans and halts the requirement of COVID-19 testing for team and contact sports.
The order marks a trend of improved numbers over the span of January, as the county’s seven-day average for cases has decreased.
The Wisconsin State Assembly voted to repeal the state’s mask mandate on Feb. 4, a move that rebuked Gov. Tony Evers’ executive orders for masking since the pandemic began.
However, almost immediately after the vote, Evers signed another executive order declaring another mask mandate. This means Wisconsin residents are still required to wear masks.
As of Feb. 1, the city of Milwaukee has vaccinated 53,705 people.
As of Feb. 4, the state of Wisconsin has fully vaccinated 143,610 people with both doses of the vaccine. The state has administered at least one dose to 518,320 people.
One in 4 Wisconsinites over the age of 65 have been vaccinated for a total of 243,240.
Check out our Instagram primer
8 things you should know
Read our story here.
Read our story here
To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd., and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., are now open and operating. American Family Field (formerly Miller Park), 1 Brewers Way, is also open as an effective testing site.
For more information on testing, including how to identify symptoms and when you should get tested, visit TestUpMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
For more information on vaccine distribution and where to find it, visit HealthyMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.

author: Matt Martinez


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5 things you should know about expansion of FoodShare benefits | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
February 9, 2021
Shae Williams (left), a benefit specialist coordinator with the Social Development Commission, helps a client enroll in FoodShare. (Photo provided by Kim Dawson-Brooks)
Over 700,000 Wisconsinites rely on the FoodShare program, which provides food benefits and other services to low-income households. Recipients spend their benefits on eligible food in authorized retail food stores.
President Joe Biden’s administration announced an executive order Jan. 22 that allows states to increase their maximum benefits for food assistance programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and FoodShare, by 15%. FoodShare is generally distributed as a QUEST card that recipients can use to buy groceries.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. A single recipient could get up to $234 monthly
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For FoodShare applicants in Wisconsin, that means a single recipient could receive up to $234 a month. Benefits scale along with the number of people in a household.
Sherrie Tussler, executive director of Hunger Task Force, said the executive order requires states to provide the maximum allowable household allotment to all FoodShare recipients. The increased benefits are expected to last until June.
The solution isn’t permanent, though. Tussler said it’s a matter of time before the maximum benefit will go away. She said long-term solutions are needed to help those struggling with food insecurity.
2. Families with kids should apply for Pandemic EBT
Tussler urged people who need food to apply for FoodShare and encouraged families with kids to check for eligibility for the Pandemic EBT.
Pandemic EBT is a food benefit specifically for kids who receive reduced-cost school lunches during the year. Since schools are mostly remote this year, the Pandemic EBT is meant to bridge the gap for kids. It can be added directly to a QUEST card or mailed as a separate card.
3. The process for enrolling
Shae Williams, a benefit specialist coordinator with Milwaukee’s Social Development Commission, helps people navigate the enrollment process. She sits down with people and does the application with them, going over paperwork they will need to apply.
Williams said people will need a form of identification for their application. They may also need a proof of residence, such as a rent receipt or utility bill and information for bank accounts.
Williams said some applications get approved almost immediately during the pandemic. She can be contacted at (414) 906-2306.
4. Pandemic creates uptick in enrollment
The coronavirus has caused a major uptick in usage for these programs. A study from the Wisconsin Policy Forum estimates that FoodShare added 83,600 recipients between March and April of last year, at the beginning of the pandemic.
Despite recipients leveling off in the summer months, the study said that enrollment increased about 21% last year due to the pandemic.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, $1.3 billion was distributed through the FoodShare program in 2020, an increase from $773 million in 2019. Money given through the program is provided by the federal government, though it is distributed by the state of Wisconsin.
Over $476 million of that total went to Milwaukee County.
5. How you can enroll
People looking to enroll in the program can visit access.wi.gov. Those in Milwaukee County can also contact Milwaukee Enrollment Services at 1-(888)-947-6583 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. That number can be used to receive support in enrolling online.
The Department of Health Services has infographics available in English, Spanish and Hmong explaining the benefits increase.

created: February 9, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 8, 2021


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OPINION: ‘Keeping it real’: How rapper IshDARR is inspiring students at Vel R. Philips Juvenile Justice Center School | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Students of the Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center School
February 9, 2021
(File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center School provides educational services to all Milwaukee County youth who are placed in secure detention by the Wisconsin juvenile court system. In this piece, they share takeaways from a recent conversation they had with local rapper and actor IshDARR. This article was first published on carvdnstone.com.
The one and only IshDARR took time to meet with us MCAP students, giving advice on his life and successes. He shared words to motivate us to do better, to be hungry and to follow our dreams.
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IshDARR is a Milwaukee-born rapper, actor and more. He was born Ishmael Ali. He got the rapper name by putting together his first name and the name Darr from his mother’s side of the family. He attended Milwaukee schools, including Messmer High School.
His dad helped him stay focused and stay away from trouble. One piece of advice that IshDARR gives us is to stay focused. He knows there are lots of distractions in Milwaukee.
IshDARR started to focus on his music and really go for it around 8th grade.  He worked on his hooks, beats and lines. People started to notice his talent.
(Photo provided by IshDARR)
He built much of his career through hard work and grinding it out. He teaches us to grind, grind, grind when going for our dreams.
IshDARR started getting more social media hits after he was grinding to get his music out — finding blogs that post music for free, even overseas blogs. He kept posting and posting. Eventually, YouTube picked up some songs and the hits flowed from there.
“The connects started to build and expand. It’s like a web, building every day,” he said. “It was just a matter of keeping at it, being consistent. Something was going to have to happen.”
Then in 2015, actress Chloë Grace Moretz retweeted one of his songs, adding thousands of new fans. The fan base became nationwide around then.
IshDARR teaches us to seek out free knowledge that’s out there and to grow in new areas.
He grew his own career when he followed advice from his agent and sent in an audition tape for the movie White Boy Rick. The producers loved him and eventually he landed a role in the 2018 film. He played Freaky Steve in White Boy Rick.
IshDARR comes from Milwaukee and sees talent in Milwaukee. He wants to show that “there’s more to Milwaukee than what a lot of people see and all the negative.” He wants to lift up the city he grew up in and spend time with young men looking for guidance — to showcase what’s here, to collaborate, and highlight more local people.
Who knows, maybe some of us will follow his advice, be among those he lifts up, and be among those local artists working with IshDARR in the future.
Thanks to IshDARR for keeping it real, spending time with us, and teaching us how to follow our dreams. And a big shout out to Nyesha Stone of Carvd N Stone for setting up the interview, having so many Zoom meetings with us this semester, teaching us about journalism, and being a great role model.
“Vel’s Voice” is a monthly student newsletter in which youths can express their opinions and analysis, as well as demonstrate their writing skills. In order to maintain their confidentiality, all articles — including this one — are anonymous.
Students writing these articles are part of the Milwaukee County Accountability Program, an alternative juvenile corrections program that offers young men a chance to change their self-destructive behavior before they end up in the adult prison system.
The full “Vel’s Voice” newsletter for Feb. 2021, including this article and more student work, can be read here.


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Post from Community: BBB Wisconsin navigated, adjusted, saw record numbers in pandemic year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
February 9, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The year 2020 was monumental in many ways. The Covid-19 pandemic brought business closures, high unemployment, overall general fear and a proliferation of scams.
The past year was also unprecedented for the BBB Serving Wisconsin in many ways related to statistics. All in all, we saw a large increase in many areas. Our numbers increased for complaint filing, “Get a Quote” submissions, investigations conducted, advertising review challenges, press releases sent, and media coverage. BBB Wisconsin particularly saw increases from March to April, when the Covid-19 pandemic was commencing, in areas such as unique website visitors (nearly 30% increase), free business profile visits (23% increase in inquiries), customer review visits (76% increase), media spots (127% in March and 188% in April) and Scam Tracker visits (80% increase).
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The Wisconsin BBB was quick to reach out to its customers (both businesses and consumers) to help navigate the murky waters and help direct a return to normalcy or “a new normal.”  Media outlets were happy to help; bringing awareness to BBB Accredited businesses through public service announcements, fraud warnings, and timely topics through partnered stories.
In 2020, BBB Wisconsin processed a total of 18,523 complaints, an 81% increase. Of those, 87% were responded to by the company.
In addition, we served more than 23,000 consumers via the telephone and live chat function on our website.
In 2020 BBB Wisconsin saw a large increase (38%) in customer review postings (nearly double the increase of 2019, a record year, at 21%) with 11,994 submitted, verified, and posted reviews.
BBB customer reviews allow consumers to post positive, negative, or neutral reviews on a company’s BBB profile. Once submitted, the writer is verified by the BBB to be an actual customer of the business. BBB customer reviews differ from BBB complaints, in which the customer is seeking the BBB’s assistance in resolving a problem.
“To say that the past year was extraordinary and unparalleled would be an understatement, but BBB Serving Wisconsin continued to build trust in trying times, helping people shop, save and plan for the future,” said Jim Temmer, BBB Serving Wisconsin president/CEO. “As the world faces many unknowns and continues to weather the impact of Covid-19, BBB remains strong and steadfast in its committed and established mission and vision, serving more Wisconsinites than ever.”
Since 2015, a total of 34,669 reports have been submitted to BBB Scam Tracker – BBB’s portal for consumers to self-report scams. Of those, Wisconsinites have contributed by submitting more than 5,050 reports to date, a 20% increase, affirming that bbb.org remains a popular, trusted option for consumers to check out companies and report scams. Scam Tracker also allows the BBB to collect, track, and share the information with media, law enforcement and the public.
Public speaking and presentations to groups is an essential means for BBB staff members to reach people personally with our messages. We look forward to educating and engaging people about current scams, fraud, and timely topics. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all in-person presentations were cut short early in 2020. Due to the circumstances, BBB Wisconsin switched its communication method and was able to provide 40 online/virtual webinars to 1,750 registrants. These events were provided free to the public.
The BBB offers free “Get A Quote” opportunities for consumers through its website. Choosing to “Get a Quote” allows a person to obtain free quotes, estimates, information or proposals from BBB Accredited Businesses. In 2020, the Wisconsin BBB forwarded 4,773 requests for quotes (52% increase) to 23,210 accredited businesses (66% increase).
The BBB Serving Wisconsin continued its social media presence reaching more than 6,950 followers on Twitter and nearly 26,400 “likes” on Facebook.
In 2020, despite having to cancel our prestigious award event and luncheon due to the pandemic, BBB awarded six Torch Awards for Ethics to the following businesses/organizations: Forte Investigations, LLC, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin, and WeatherPro Exteriors.
For more information on the Torch and Spark Awards, click here
The BBB Serving Wisconsin proudly awarded 10 scholarships to Wisconsin High School seniors who demonstrated character, leadership, and ethical values. Each of the ten students received a $2,500 scholarship to attend an accredited college or university of their choice. The 2020 “Student of Integrity” scholarship was sponsored by the BBB of Wisconsin Foundation and made possible thanks to the support of our corporate sponsors; We Energies Foundation, Catholic Financial Life, Dave Jones, Inc., Roger & Shirley Schroeder, SVA Certified Public Accountants S.C., Baird, Harley-Davidson, O’Leary & Anick, Kelmann Restoration, Town Bank, BMO Harris Bank, Associated Bank, Ellenbecker Investment Group, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Johnson Financial Group, and Paul & Jane Sara.
The BBB of Wisconsin Foundation has given scholarship gifts to students totaling $202,500 since 2010. For more information on the BBB Students of Integrity scholarships, click here.
In 2020, BBB Serving Wisconsin conducted 153 investigations (19.5% increase) and sent a record 187 press releases to the public including informational pieces, business alerts, and scam notifications (149% increase).
Of particular interest this year was information related to and scams concerning Covid-19. This resulted in more than 5,282 – a record – TV, radio, and newspaper stories (18% increase). BBB even created website pages intended solely for quick access to Covid-19 information for both consumers and business-related resources.
BBB Serving Wisconsin challenged 246 ads for questionable claims (14% increase). The BBB requested immediate cease and desist from unauthorized users of its logo, requested substantiation of certain advertising claims, and in some cases, asked companies to modify their advertising to eliminate false or misleading information.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

author: Wisconsin Better Business Bureau


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bbb | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
February 10, 2021

created: February 10, 2021


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Post from Community: SEWRPC and Milwaukee County seeking public input for transit enhancement study along and near 27th Street | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
February 9, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and Milwaukee County are beginning a transit study along and near 27th Street. Both rail and bus services are being evaluated, and could increase frequency, add amenities, and potentially expand the existing Milwaukee County Transit Service (MCTS) PurpleLine service area—one of the most popular transit lines in the County. The public is invited to the first round of virtual public meetings to learn more about the effort, review initial work including preliminary route options, and provide comments. Registration and additional details are available at mkenorthsouth.com.
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About the Study
The North-South Transit Enhancement Study will analyze the feasibility of a transit enhancement along or near 27th Street in Milwaukee County. The study will look at on-street transit enhancement options that would likely utilize 27th Street for the majority of the route, and rail and bus options that would utilize the nearby 30th Street Rail Corridor for the northern portion of the corridor. The study will provide an evaluation of alternatives considering factors such as the population and destinations served, travel times, environmental impacts, cost, and potential ridership and will recommend a locally preferred alternative.
About the Corridor
The 27th Street corridor—defined for the initial portion of the study as the area within one-half mile of the existing PurpleLine bus route—is home to many racially and ethnically diverse communities. Enhanced transit service would improve access for individuals within the corridor, which is made up of 75 percent people of color (38 percent Black, 29 percent of Hispanic ethnicity and 5 percent Asian). In addition, 21 percent of all families in poverty in the County live within one-half mile of the PurpleLine. It is estimated that nearly 23 percent of households in the PurpleLine corridor do not have a car.
More than 118,000 people live within one-half mile of the existing PurpleLine route, which also provides access to 50,000 jobs, 4 major medical facilities, 63 K-12 schools, 31 grocery stores, and a variety of community resource centers. The corridor intersects with many of the County’s other major transit lines, including the planned East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, which is scheduled to begin construction later this year.
Public Involvement
There will be three rounds of public meetings for this study. During round one, which will begin later this month, the public will have an opportunity learn more about existing transit in the corridor, the purpose and goals for the study, project timelines, and have opportunities to respond to questions and provide general feedback. Input collected during this first round of public involvement will be used to further develop route and technology options. Subsequent public involvement opportunities will allow the public to provide feedback on defined alternatives and evaluations.
Join Us
To adhere to public health guidelines, the first round of public involvement for the study will take place remotely with a variety of options available for the public to learn more about the study and provide feedback to the study team. Virtual public meetings will take place on February 23 and 24. A recording and materials will be made available on the project website after the meetings with additional opportunities to provide feedback throughout the length of the study.
Register for the virtual meetings and learn more at mkenorthsouth.com.
Virtual Public Meeting 1: Tuesday, February 23, 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Virtual Public Meeting 2: Wednesday, February 24, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Spanish and American Sign Language interpreters will be provided. For assistance registering, or additional accommodations email info@mkenorthsouth.com or call the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission at (262) 547-6721 within three business days of the meeting.
Comments may also be submitted in any of the following ways:
Web: Contact page at mkenorthsouth.com/contact
E-mail: info@mkenorthsouth.com
Mail: P.O. Box 1607, Waukesha, WI 53187-1607
Fax: (262) 547-1103


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 9, 2021


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Post from Community: United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County announces community initiatives supported from MacKenzie Scott donation | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
February 9, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County today announced key community initiatives that will be supported by a generous $25 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
“We are so proud to say that after all of her research, Ms. Scott chose our United Way for her donation,” said Amy Lindner, president & CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. “This is a powerful affirmation of the work that is being done by community volunteers, our partner nonprofits, businesses, and individuals throughout our community. It’s because of our work together, MacKenzie Scott chose us to receive this incredible gift.”
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Linda Benfield, board chair for United Way added, “We are so incredibly grateful to Ms. Scott for her generous donation. This gift along with the continued donations of so many in our local community, will further key initiatives that will affect the lives of so many throughout all of our neighborhoods.”
In a live, virtual community announcement, Lindner outlined the initiatives that will be supported by the donation. Highlights include:
Creation of a racial equity portfolio.
The mission is to foster long-term stability of Black and Brown-led organizations by providing multi-year, general operating grants, to center the resident voice, and sponsor systems-change work led by our communities.
United Way will continue the work with Boys and Men of Color and Milwaukee Fellows. They will create an advisory committee for Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement, and we will commit new dollars to Black and Brown led organizations and their leaders, informed by a community advisory committee.
Continued investments in Safe & Stable Homes initiative.
The goal of the initiative is to End to Family Homelessness in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties. United Way previously stated a goal to achieve this by 2025, but now we have adjusted this goal to accomplish this by 2023.
Funding will be available to vetted partners to address emergency rental assistance, utilities payments, arrears, and other immediate needs.
Funding will be available for the Eviction Defense Project, focusing on serving all families with children under 18 years old.
Funding will also be available for other high-risk populations, including those returning to the community after incarceration.
Expanding the nationally recognized Community Schools.
In partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools, United Way is currently working with twelve Community Schools. They will add three new schools to increase the reach of a proven educational strategy.
They will also increase support for Coalition of Anti-Racist and Restorative Educators, to continue to provide professional learning communities on anti-racist practices for Community School educators.
They are launching a series of expanded integrated student support this year, including early childhood linkages, housing stability, coordinated health, and college and career readiness.
United Way will also strengthen their partnership with Waukesha County school districts, deepening investments in current partnership schools as they help them transition to a more formal community schools’ model.
Address the COVID-19 academic slide by offering robust, accessible academic opportunities over the summer.
United Way is working with several education and youth development partners to determine how to best reach students who have fallen behind, for a variety of reasons, and how to help them regain traction.
Learn more at: http://www.unitedwayGMWC.org
About United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County: United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our local community.


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Post from Community: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduces American Opportunity Accounts Act | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin
February 9, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) to reintroduce the American Opportunity Accounts Act, legislation seeking to create a national program commonly referred to as “Baby Bonds.” This groundbreaking bill will create a federally-funded savings account for every American child at birth that will grow each year depending on family income, making economic opportunity a birthright for every American and helping close the racial wealth gap.
The American Opportunity Accounts Act, also known as “Baby Bonds”, will create a new American birthright – giving every child a fair chance at economic opportunity and mobility. The legislation will create and seed a savings account of $1,000 at birth, with additional deposits of up to $2,000 each year, depending on household income. The funds will sit in an interest-bearing account, which can be accessed by account holders at age 18 for allowable uses like buying a home, paying for educational expenses or starting a business.
“The growing gap between those at the top and everybody else has been at historic highs and much of the wealth gap is along racial lines. Too many people are being left behind by Washington and we should take bold action to start helping them get ahead by creating economic opportunity for all Americans,” said Senator Baldwin.“Wisconsin’s economy is strongest when we extend and expand opportunity for everyone. This legislation will create upward economic mobility for every child in America. With this investment, we can help close the racial wealth gap and advance racial equity across our economy.”
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“The American Opportunity Accounts Act is one of the most important investments in equity Washington can make to help close the racial wealth gap, increase the net worth of millions of families, and set the next generation up for success,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “The Milwaukee metro area has one of the largest wealth gaps in the country, it’s just one of the many disparities that are the legacy of generations of policies that benefited white Americans on the backs of Black Americans, Indigenous peoples, and other people of color. The problem was created by policy in Washington, and now Washington has an opportunity to fix it. The time for change is always now and we can start with swift passage of the American Opportunity Accounts Act.”
Over the last few years, momentum for Baby Bonds has grown in Congress and in state legislatures across the country. In just the last year, the legislation has gone from 1 to 14 Senate cosponsors, covering the full breadth of the Democratic caucus, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and state-level proposals have been proposed in multiple states. Recent studies by Columbia University and Morningstar have found that a program like Baby Bonds would substantially close the racial wealth gap in America.
“To truly ‘build back better’ our economy, we cannot ignore the extreme and persistent wealth inequality that deprives kids of economic opportunity right out of the gate,” said Senator Booker. “We know this growing gap has been driven in part by federal policies and a federal tax code that subsidizes asset building for some Americans but fails to extend and expand that opportunity for all Americans. Baby Bonds will start to level the playing field. In a country as wealthy as ours, every person should have access to economic opportunity and the chance to build assets and create wealth. I am proud to re-introduce the American Opportunity Accounts Act with 14 of my Senate Democratic colleagues. This legislation represents an ambitious, evidence-based, and practical approach to building a foundation for wealth-building and opportunity for all Americans.”
“The racial wealth gap in my district and across the country is stark and only getting worse, exacerbating inequities and denying far too many people of color an opportunity to thrive,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “These disparities are the direct result of generations of policy violence exacted against Black and brown communities, so we must be every bit as intentional in advancing policies that center racial and economic justice – policies like Baby Bonds. Baby Bonds are one of the most effective tools at our disposal to help close the racial wealth gap and break generational cycles of poverty. By establishing Baby Bonds as a birthright, our bill will provide every child an opportunity to pursue higher education, purchase a home, and build wealth for generations to come.”
“Giving our youngest Americans and their working parents an economic opportunity like baby bonds would deliver strong economic relief and mark an investment in our collective future,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “I am proud to back this legislation led by Senator Booker and Rep. Pressley because it will help address inequality, establish the foundation of a solid financial future for our kids and serve as a down payment on the milestones that too many families find are out of basic reach.”
Specifics of the American Opportunity Accounts Act:
At birth, every American child would be given an “American Opportunity Account” seeded with $1,000. Each year, children would receive up to an additional $2,000 deposit into their American Opportunity Account, depending on family income. These funds would sit in a federally insured account managed by the Treasury Department, achieving roughly 3 percent interest. Account holders may access the money once they reach age 18 and use the funds for allowable uses like homeownership, financing a higher education or starting a small business— the kind of investments that change life trajectories.
The American Opportunity Accounts Act is endorsed by the Black Millennial Convention, Center for Law and Social Policy, Children’s Defense Fund, Color of Change, Environmental Working Group, Faith for Black Lives, First Focus Campaign for Children, LIFT, NAACP, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Women’s Law Center, National Urban League, PolicyLink, Prosperity Now, RESULTS, and The Asset Building Policy Network (as a collective).
In addition to Baldwin, Booker, Schumer, and Pressley, the American Opportunity Accounts Act is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Representatives Sanford Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and André Carson (IN-07).

author: Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin


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IMG_2997.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 5, 2021


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What you need to know about the Feb. 16 MPS school board election | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
February 9, 2021
The MPS Central Office building, where the Milwaukee Board of School Directors met before closing due to COVID-19 (File photo by Jabril Faraj).
In less than three months, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors will look very different, as four of its nine board members are stepping down at the end of their terms in April.
Who will replace them will be decided in the upcoming primary election on Feb. 16 and the general election April 6.
The Milwaukee Board of School Directors, or school board, sets and approves policy for MPS schools. The school board also approves the MPS budget each year, which is currently about $1.2 billion.
You can see what is on your ballot in the February primary here.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Four school board seats are up for reelection this spring, and all four directors currently in those seats are stepping down. Three of those directors are stepping down voluntarily, whereas District 4 representative Annie Woodward filed to run again but failed to get her nomination papers certified.
The other three directors’ reasons for not seeking re-election  including wanting to create space for fresh ideas to pursuing other interests.
Aisha Carr, Dana Kelley, Victor Nwagbaraocha and Cheryl Hayes are running for the open seat In District 4, which represents parts of Midtown, Lindsay Heights, Martin Drive and Metcalfe Park.
Abbie Fishman, Jilly Gokalgandhi, Kahri Phelps Okoro and Alex Brower are vying for the open seat in District 5, which represents downtown, the East Side, Riverwest and Harambee.
Articles profiling each of the candidates in Districts 4 and 5 will be published later this week.
Marcela García and Henry Leonard are running unopposed in Districts 6 and 7, respectively. Because they are unopposed, they will not be participating in the primary in February but will be on the ballot in April’s general election.
One of the most visible decisions taken by the Board of School Directors is to keep almost all MPS students in remote learning. This comes as large city school districts across the country have begun to reopen in-person classes.
In the last year, the board has cut all but one contract with the Milwaukee Police Department, allocated spending from a successful referendum in April, and overseen MPS’ effort to address disproportionate disciplining of Black male students. The board has also renewed charters for several MPS charter schools, though there is controversy around the board’s decision to renew some charters for three years instead of five.
The major challenge for incoming school board directors will be managing MPS’ return to in-person learning. Currently, MPS plans to return students to in-person learning by April 26, but a new school board could amend this return date.
In addition, outgoing 6 District Director Tony Báez said that incoming board members will also have to manage the initiatives of outgoing board members. This includes his bilingual initiative, which would ensure a bilingual education is available for every MPS student.
“The board needs to bring in new minds and fresh ideas,” Báez said. “But that doesn’t mean what’s on the table right now will be going away when they arrive.”
Yes. The Milwaukee Teacher’s Education Association, or MTEA, has endorsed Leonard in District 7, Kelley in District 4, and  Brower and Fishman in District 5. The union did not endorse anyone in the District 6, where Garcia is running unopposed.
MTEA’s endorsement has proven vital to winning a seat on the school board in recent years, as every winner of the 2019 and 2017 school board elections was endorsed by the union.
In a Feb. 2 news release announcing the endorsements, MTEA president Amy Mizialko said the union is endorsing those candidates due to their expressed commitment to public schools.
“”MTEA has endorsed four candidates who have a deep connection to the MPS community and who have displayed a sincere desire to ensure MPS students have the opportunities they deserve,” Mizialko said.
“These individuals are champions of our public schools and are committed to keeping public resources in public schools where they belong.”


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Election 2021: Meet the school board candidates for District 4 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
February 10, 2021
Aisha Carr, Cheryl Hayes, Dana Kelley and Victor Nwagbaraocha.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the university where Aisha Carr received her master’s in educational leadership and policy analysis.
Four of the nine seats on the Milwaukee Board of School Directors are up for reelection.
In District 4, which includes parts of the Midtown, Lindsay Heights, Martin Drive and Metcalfe Park neighborhoods, four candidates will be on the ballot for the Feb. 16 primary. Two of those candidates will move on to the general election on April 6.
Early voting is open at City Hall until 5 p.m. Friday.  You can find your Election Day polling place here.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Here is biographical information for candidates and answers to five questions posed by NNS. Answers have been summarized for brevity, but you can find each candidate’s full answer here: Aisha Carr, Dana Kelley, Victor Nwagbaraocha and Cheryl Hayes.
(Photo provided by Aisha Carr)
33
2819 N. 2St., Milwaukee WI 53212
Master’s in educational leadership and policy analysis at UW-Madison; master’s in urban special education at Cardinal Stritch University
Opportunity Youth Re-Engagement Director at Silver Spring Neighborhood Center
Ran for Milwaukee School Board District 4 in 2017
: State Rep. Evan Goyke, Zion Rodgers (Rufus King High School student), Andre Lee Ellis
Dana Kelley
(Photo provided by Dana Kelley)
: 45
: 2969 N. 45th Street, Milwaukee WI 53210
: Graduate of North Division H.S.; associates in biblical studies, Midwest Bible College
: Co-Op Organizer of North Side Rising, Citizen Action of WI; assistant pastor, The Reviving Faith Movement
: None
: Milwaukee Teacher’s Education Association, Milwaukee Democratic Socialists of America
Victor Nwagbaraocha
(Photo provided by Victor Nwagbaraocha)
: 58
: P.O. Box 05486, Milwaukee WI 53205
: Master’s in educational leadership from UW-Milwaukee; bachelor’s in special education from UW-Milwaukee
: Special education teacher in elementary, middle and high school, diagnostic teacher, elementary and middle school
-Designated vocational instructor, high school
-Founder of an educational nonprofit organization, Positive Images Inc.
-Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
-Member of the Knights of Peter Claver
: None
: Director Annie Woodward, Protellus, Verify Me Now
Cheryl Hayes
(Photo provided by Cheryl Hayes)
71
2222 W. Walnut St., Milwaukee 53205
Master’s in urban education from Mt. Mary University
Retired MPS educator
None
: Dream Gunther, Joyce and Joe Ellwanger, Attorney James Hall, Syvell Hugo Hall, Deli 1614, Lucia and Jack Murtaugh and Rev. Michelle Townsend de Lopez
: “I am running because representation matters. With over 80% of the MPS student body population identifying as Black and Brown youth who reflect diversity in age, generation and culture, it is my belief that in order to adequately provide each student with a high quality educational experience, we must deliver quality instruction from the lens of which each student can closely identify with.”
: “I am running for MPS board District 4 because our community of color needs a change in the education presented to them. District 4 is the most marginalized and disproportionate community that lacks resources, revenue and support from policy and lawmakers. Therefore, I plan to ensure a quality education to children of color through music, arts and mental health professionals being in all schools for a holistic educational approach. I also want to hold charter schools accountable for continued funding through an accountability clause that measures each school’s success where they must offer a curriculum that is different from MPS and offers a higher quality of education than MPS.”
: “I want to make Milwaukee Public Schools a tier one educational destination for our students and families. I believe that our educational system can do better for our children and families. I want to be part of an educational body that strives to:
: “I believe I can address many of the inequities at MPS more effectively as a school board member. After 20 years of teaching for Milwaukee Public Schools, I am aware of issues that need to be addressed. I will vote for positive policies that affect the children, staff and families of Milwaukee School District 4. I currently have grandchildren and other family members who attend Milwaukee Public Schools. A love for children, my family and my community make improvement of Milwaukee Public Schools my self-interest.”
Carr: “For almost six years, I served as a special education and English co-teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools. During that time, I led two district-wide piloted initiatives — the Black Lives Matter resolution to train, promote and teach equity and inclusion, and the Restorative Practice program to encourage leaders, educators and students to understand and resolve conflict and adversity in any capacity. Prior to becoming an educator, I served as a Community Learning Center director with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee in the same school that I would later teach at. I’ve worked as a legislative staffer on Capitol Hill for former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold and have worked with youth and young adults nationwide in other capacities.”
: “I am qualified especially for this seat because I genuinely care about the life and longevity of MPS and its students. I am an alumni of MPS and very proud of the educational experience I received through North Division and other Milwaukee Public Schools. I work as a co-op organizer of North Side Rising, for Citizen Action of WI, where we fight for political, economic, and racial and climate equity and justice. I stood up against We Energies and the PSC this past summer and was successful in getting the utilities [disconnection] moratorium extended throughout WI.”
: “I am a retired special education teacher and administrator with over 30 years of experience in the Racine Unified and Milwaukee Public School districts. As a first-generation immigrant, my parents and community installed in me the belief in being a lifelong learner, and a servant leader in my community. I have worked and engaged in the urban educational framework in the classroom, on the playground, in the community and political areas through my work as a parent, union representative and community advocate.”
: “I have been a resident of the Milwaukee Inner City since 1970. A former welfare recipient, I am a single parent of five. I have been a Habitat for Humanity homeowner since 1989. My professional experiences are as an outreach home detention case manager; community organizer; church-based leader with MICAH as a member of Cross Lutheran Church; and extensive service to youth as the cofounder-coordinator of a youth support group for 22 years. I taught at Milwaukee Public Schools from 1998-2020. Prior to teaching I was a community leader and activist. I have developed relationships which will enable me to negotiate and collaborate with those who are willing to aid in creating effective changes in our MPS schools.”
: “To name a few, some of the most important issues facing the board and District 4 in particular are: COVID-19 reopening plan; racial/social/academic/economic disparities impacting students throughout the city; the recruitment and retention of Black and Brown educators; overworked, under-resourced, under-compensated educators; underutilization and vacancy of MPS buildings; inequitable funding; increased accountability for the district’s traditional and charter schools; punitive disciplinary policies; support for culturally responsive curriculums, etc.”
Kelley: “The most important issues facing the board and District 4 in particular is equality. Privatization plays a big role in that. Therefore, we must work and fight against parasitic privatization which sucks the life out of MPS. We lack support, revenue and resources. There are misallocations and misappropriations of funding and support for teachers, parents and students. We must follow the money and rectify the problem of lack in our district. We must also work to encourage parents to bring their children back to MPS. We have to strengthen our curriculum and support for the district, staff, students and parents alike.”
: “The most important issues facing the board and District 4:
: “There are a number of issues which need to be addressed within the Milwaukee Public School district. There are two issues of importance I would like to see addressed. The first is low academic scores of our students throughout the district. The second is enrollment and attendance. These two issues have become more intense since the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the schools are opened to in-person learning, students will need additional services to improve academics. The district will need to make available resources for tutoring. I propose after-school programming and weekend tutoring. I also propose summer school at numerous locations to allow students the opportunity to earn extra credit or pass failed course work. There will be a need for smaller classroom sizes to ensure social distancing, due to COVID-19.”
report
: I am not satisfied with the district’s efforts to address the disproportionate discipline of Black male students. In order to create a more equitable, racially just and restorative district, the district must practice consistency, urgency and transparency in its deliverance of equity and inclusion training, policies, practices as well as progress monitoring. It’s a step in a positive direction to lay out plans for racially equitable, inclusive and restorative disciplinary practices. However, it’s another thing to actually implement those named practices throughout the district, holding each and every professional accountable to those policies and procedures.
: “Being the mother of two sons, I definitely do not agree with the disproportionate disciplining of Black male students. I fought hard to keep my sons from being labeled and caught up in the system. But many parents are not as fortunate as I have been in advocating for their child’s educational and criminal justice. The school-to-prison pipeline is very real in communities of color and continually perpetuated due to lack of social development funding in our community. We are rewarded with more police instead of resources for rehabilitation, moral and social development and just plain fun. Our suburban communities do not have this same problem of lack for their youth and this is why the grass looks greener on the other side. Any grass that is not watered will wither and die.”
: “I would advocate for transparency as the district moves forward towards:
: “The district is making efforts to address disproportionate disciplining of Black male students, but it is a very slow process. During my last years as a teacher at an alternative high school, our professional development sessions emphasized the need for other means to be put in place to replace suspension and expulsion of minority males. A program in collaboration with a community-based organization was implemented at the school to reduce the injustices to students of color. It lasted one year. It showed signs of a positive approach. However, the district did not renew the contract. I want to see the district attempt this approach again with more schools. I would definitely bring the proposal to the district when elected to the school board.
“I would also propose that the district contract more Violence Free Zone teams for schools in the 4th District. I have witnessed the team mediators as very effective in deterring violence among students. They are able to identify and diffuse negative situations in a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach. They are a positive replacement for having police in the schools.”
: “It is my belief that school should remain virtual for the remainder of the 2020-21 academic school year. Instead of having students back for a month of instruction, putting everyone at risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus, this time should be spent revising each school’s budget, allocating funding to train educators, support staff, administrators, students and families for extensive, rigorous, high-quality summer and fall academic instruction. For some, the resources will be present to provide quality academic enrichment support, thus keeping those students on a trajectory for academic success. For others, a strategic plan of action will be necessary to address the academic skill deficiencies pre- and post-COVID-19. In order to meet the needs of every student, a solid plan of action is needed, and I am unclear. I am not confident that the District has developed that just yet.”
: “No, I do not agree with MPS’ decision to keep most students virtual until April because I believe April is too soon to return to in-person learning. Therefore, I would not decide to bring students back at all this school year. Yes, it has been challenging for all stakeholders, but our children and our community will be at risk with reopening MPS too soon and without an adequate public health and safety plan.
“Children are affected by COVID and carriers of COVID. They live with family members that are elderly and that have compromised immune systems. This poses a public health risk and will affect the community of color at a more disproportionate rate than any other community. I want to keep our children safe and our community safe.”
: “No, I do not agree with Milwaukee Public Schools’ decision to keep most students in all virtual instruction until April. As a parent, educator and administrator, I know how painful this pandemic has been for families. We are witnessing our most vulnerable students suffer from the current uncompromising remote learning regimen. Students with special needs, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students are falling behind. Many students are dealing with pandemic induced trauma. For these reasons, we need a pragmatic, professional science-informed response to reopening.
“As we move through this era of COVID, we need to offer parents and families the option to send their children to school in-person. “
: “Yes, I agree.”


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Adam Carr
February 9, 2021


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AishaCarr | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 9, 2021


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VictorNwagbaraocha | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 9, 2021


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Post from Community: Habitat accepting applications for 2021 first-time homebuyers | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
February 10, 2021
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity is now accepting applications for first-time homebuyers interested in building their own brand new home. Habitat will begin construction of these new, affordable homes in Milwaukee’s Harambee and Midtown neighborhoods beginning in March. Habitat homeowners help build their homes, receive financial literacy and home maintenance courses, and pay an affordable mortgage.
These affordable homeownership opportunities are coming at a time when Milwaukee is steeped in an affordable housing crisis where 1 in 3 renters are spending half or more of their income on housing. Furthermore, in the four-county metro Milwaukee area, nearly three out of four Black families do not own the home they live in, while nearly three out of four white families do. It’s one of the worst racial homeownership gaps in the United States.
Milwaukee Habitat’s affordable homeownership program makes access to homeownership possible for low-to-moderate income families who often face obstacles of extremely high interest rates or large down payments from traditional lenders.
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Milwaukee Habitat’s below market rate mortgage won’t exceed 30% of a family’s income, widely recognized as the threshold for housing affordability. Typical mortgage payments will average $500-$800 per month based on family income and type of home.
To qualify for Milwaukee Habitat’s new home construction program, applicants must be first-time homebuyers in need of affordable housing. Applicants must meet credit and income guidelines and have the ability to pay the affordable mortgage.
The first step towards owning one of Milwaukee Habitat’s new homes is to attend a free, no-obligation homeowner orientation. Register and watch the orientation online here. The orientation will cover the requirements, benefits and other details about Milwaukee Habitat’s affordable homeownership program. Following the orientation, interested applicants are encouraged to complete the application (available on the website) and send it back promptly with all required documents to be considered. Homes are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
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About Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
Families in Milwaukee and all across the United States are paying too high a price to cover the cost of their home. 1 in 3 Milwaukee renters pay half or more of their income on housing, while others are struggling to afford critical repairs. Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity makes homeownership and critical repairs affordable for local families in need. Habitat’s affordable mortgage ensures families don’t spend more than 30% of their income on housing, allowing them to invest in nutrition, education, health care and savings. Since our founding in 1984, Milwaukee Habitat has served more than 1300 local families in need of safe, affordable housing. Together we can make the cost of home something we all can afford.

author: Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity


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Homeownership-Release-2.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 10, 2021