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Post from Community: Milwaukee PBS documentary continues to spark national conversation and receive national recognition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee PBS
November 6, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Earlier this year, Milwaukee PBS premiered a new documentary that told a story it knew it had to tell. No one could have predicted how that story would inspire a national discussion. Since it premiered in May, Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone, a collaboration between Milwaukee PBS and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK–Wisconsin, has garnered recognition for its journalistic excellence, both locally and nationally. The documentary was just named a finalist in three categories for the 2019 National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) Awards.
Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone tells the gripping stories of four local young people and their experiences with mental illness and suicidal thoughts. The documentary has generated a considerable amount of public conversation throughout the state, and the country. In September, the producers were invited to the State Capitol by the Wisconsin state legislature to screen the film, and to discuss the issue of mental health among Wisconsin’s youth. This inspired public policy recommendations regarding mental health awareness and care in the state of Wisconsin. Nationwide, over 250 schools, clubs and civic organizations have contacted Milwaukee PBS to screen Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone. And PBS stations across the country have opted to air Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone throughout the fall of 2019. The documentary was also just awarded First Place in the 2019 Katherine Schneider Journalism Award for Excellence in Reporting on Disability by the National Center on Disability and Journalism.
“Mental illness is a growing crisis among our country’s youth, and especially here in Wisconsin, so we felt compelled to tell the stories of these four children and their struggles with mental health,” said Bohdan Zachary, General Manager of Milwaukee PBS. “We hope that by bringing their stories to light, we will bring awareness – and hope – to the issue of mental health among America’s youth. We are honored that NETA recognizes our commitment to our community through our work on this documentary.”
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The NETA Awards honor public television’s best work in education, community engagement,
marketing/communications and content. This year, NETA received the highest number of entries for consideration in the Awards’ history.  Milwaukee PBS is a finalist in the following categories:
Community Engagement – Local Project
“Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone” – Milwaukee PBS
Community Engagement – Community Initiative
“Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone” – Milwaukee PBS
Excellence in Content
Milwaukee PBS
The NETA Awards Reception and Gala will take place on Sunday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the 2020 NETA Conference and CPB Thought Leader Forum in Arlington, Virginia.
For more information on Kids in Crisis: You’re Not Alone, and for mental health resources, visit www.MilwaukeePBS.org.
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About Milwaukee PBS
Milwaukee PBS is southeastern Wisconsin’s premier non-commercial media organization.  Milwaukee PBS consists of two high-definition television stations, WMVS and WMVT, and four additional digital television services.  The Milwaukee PBS stations are the area’s only over-the-air source for PBS and other national public television programs. The stations are watched by over 627,770 viewers each week throughout southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Milwaukee PBS is a viewer-supported service of Milwaukee Area Technical College. MATC is a two-year vocational-technical college based in Milwaukee, WI offering day, evening and weekend classes on four campuses. For more information, visit www.MilwaukeePBS.org.

author: Milwaukee PBS


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Post from Community: Nominations now open for the 71st annual crime prevention awards | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Safe & Sound
November 6, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 71st Annual Crime Prevention Awards, taking place on Wednesday, February 5, 2020!
To nominate a resident, law enforcement professional, or an organization who, through their special contributions to crime prevention, have made the Greater Milwaukee area a better place to live and work, click the orange link below!
2020 Crime Prevention Awards – Nomination Form
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Please submit all nominations by Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. Please note, you may only select one award category per nominee. Multiple nomination forms are accepted.
This event is organized by LISC Milwaukee and Safe & Sound, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to safe and equitable neighborhoods in the Milwaukee area, in partnership with law enforcement agencies.
For more information on sponsoring the event, please contact Grace Arend, Safe & Sound Development and Events Manager, a grace@safesound.org or 414-708-2794.
Presenting Sponsor: AAA
Community Action Sponsor: The Salvation Army
Community Awards
AAA Wisconsin Traffic Safety Award
Individual or group that increased community safety by promoting compliance with traffic laws. Examples include, but are not limited to: seat belt and child seat use, texting and driving, impaired driving, graduated drivers licensing, speeding, etc.
The Salvation Army Chaplaincy Program Outstanding Individual
Person such as a neighbor, committed staff of nonprofits, business or city government, who has made notable contributions to crime prevention. A nomination should detail the circumstances, actions or reasons surrounding the individual’s efforts.
Outstanding Block Club/Community Collaboration
Block club/community group with an active involvement in making the community safe.
Outstanding Corporation or Business
Corporation or business that has contributed to crime prevention whether by service, support, programming or advocacy.
Outstanding Faith Based Organization
Faith Based organization that has contributed to reducing crime, fear and disorder in their community. An organization based on faith and/or beliefs, a mission based on social values of the particular faith, and which most often draws its activists from a particular faith group will be considered.
Law Enforcement Awards
AAA Wisconsin Traffic Safety Award
Officer or agency that increased community safety by promoting compliance with traffic laws. Examples include, but are not limited to: seat belt and child seat use, texting and driving, impaired driving, graduated drivers licensing, speeding, etc.
Outstanding Community Liaison Officer (CLO)
CLO that contributed to crime prevention in their community. A nomination should detail the circumstances, actions or reasons surrounding the CLO efforts of community/law enforcement cooperation.
Outstanding Professional Contribution
An officer with distinguished service in the area of crime prevention and community. A nomination should detail the circumstances, actions or reasons surrounding the nomination. When multiple officers are involved in an act worthy of recognition, please list the actions of each officer.
Outstanding Civilian Contribution
A civilian with distinguished service to law enforcement and crime prevention. A nomination should detail the circumstances, actions or reasons surrounding the nomination.
Either Community or Law Enforcement Awards
Outstanding Greater Milwaukee Partnership
Law enforcement or community partnerships that have contributed to reducing crime, fear and disorder in their respective community.
Crime Prevention Advocate
Any member of the community or law enforcement that contributed to long term policy, advocacy or education efforts related to public safety. Click here to submit a nomination! More information on event registration coming soon!
Click here to submit a nomination!
More information on event registration coming soon!

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: November 6, 2019

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

author: Safe & Sound


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unnamed (1) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 6, 2019

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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Post from Community: The Nehemiah Project celebrates its 50th year | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
The Nehemiah Project Inc
November 6, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Nehemiah Project Inc. is Celebrating its 50th year with keynote speaker MITCH ALBOM “How One Life Touches Another”
Dinner & fundraiser event
November 19 th 5:30 – 8:30pm
Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 509 W.
Wisconsin Ave.
Tickets can be purchased on-line at our website:
https://www.nehemiahprojectinc.org/
Or, by calling Stacy York (414) 933-8002
THE NEHEMIAH PROJECT INC. is a non-profit, youth-focused organization that promotes the physical and emotional well-being of youth through psychological, educational, leadership, and transitional living services.
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MITCH ALBOM is internationally renowned and best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books have collectively sold more than 39 million copies worldwide; have been published in forty-nine territories and in forty-five languages around the world; and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically acclaimed television movies.

author: The Nehemiah Project Inc


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How a little pot can lead to big consequences for tens of thousands of Wisconsin residents | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Natalie Yahr, Wisconsin Watch
November 7, 2019
Across Wisconsin, there were more than 17,000 arrests for marijuana possession and more than 1,800 arrests for marijuana sales in 2018. Arrest and conviction records can make it harder to get jobs, professional licenses, housing, financial aid for higher education and government assistance. Here, a 23-year-old Madison, Wis., resident smokes a joint in a downtown apartment on March 31, 2019. (Emily Hamer, Wisconsin Watch)
The police officer stopped 18-year-old “Michael” as he pulled out of a central Wisconsin bowling alley one day in 1997, driving an old model Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue.
“Where’s the pot?” asked the officer, who had been tipped off to Michael’s bag of marijuana.
Michael handed over the eighth of an ounce of cannabis he was carrying — enough for about seven joints — and the officer booked him for marijuana possession.
The officer also asked where Michael worked. He was on “Christmas layoff” from his job at a window factory, expecting to return to work after the holidays. But Michael soon received a letter notifying him that he had violated the company’s drug-free policy. He lost his job even before he was convicted.
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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers favors decriminalizing the possession, sale or manufacture of 25 grams or less of marijuana. The move comes as a growing swath of Wisconsin’s population favors legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana for at least some uses. Here, a 23-year-old Madison, Wis., resident lights a joint in a downtown apartment on March 31, 2019. (Emily Hamer/Wisconsin Watch)
Michael was sentenced to 18 months of probation and a six-month driver’s license suspension for misdemeanor marijuana possession. It set off years of consequences, including what Michael described as “a life of petty crime.”
He asked that his identity be shielded in this story —  Michael is a pseudonym — because he fears the social and professional stigma of having criminal convictions.
“The record,” he said, “just follows you forever and ever and ever.”
The Cannabis Question is a series exploring questions about proposals to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin.
Related story: ‘I’m still discriminated against’: Wisconsin lawmakers propose easing burdens on marijuana offenders
Twenty years after that fateful event, Wisconsin’s governor would like to change the laws that led to Michael’s arrest. Gov. Tony Evers favors decriminalizing the possession, sale or manufacture of 25 grams or less of marijuana — about seven times more than Michael had at his 1997 arrest.
In fact, Evers would like to eliminate all penalties — including fines — for possession under 25 grams. That plan is unique; according to an April report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to researching and evaluating policy statewide. All of the 13 states that have already decriminalized, but not legalized, marijuana impose some penalty — usually a fine — for possession.
Gov. Tony Evers proposed in his budget legalizing medical marijuana and decriminalizing the possession, sale or manufacture of 25 grams or less of marijuana, measures that were removed by the Republican-run Legislature. A bipartisan bill proposal to legalize medical marijuana is now before lawmakers. Evers is seen here during his inauguration ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Jan. 7, 2019. (Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Watch)
The move comes as a growing swath of Wisconsin’s population favors legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana for at least some uses. Last year, voters in 18 Wisconsin communities passed non-binding referenda calling for legalization or decriminalization. But the Republican-run Legislature eliminated Evers’ decriminalization plan when it passed the current two-year budget.
Across Wisconsin, there were more than 17,000 arrests for marijuana possession and more than 1,800 arrests for marijuana sales in 2018, together accounting for 61% of the state’s drug arrests for the year, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
The consequences of those arrests can be long-lasting. Arrest and conviction records can make it harder to get jobs, professional licenses, housing, financial aid for higher education and government assistance. Felony convictions can bar a person from serving on a jury or, in some states, voting.
The American Bar Association’s National Inventory of the Collateral Consequences of Conviction lists 641 negative consequences of nonviolent drug convictions. A U.S. Government Accountability Office review found that more than three-fourths of them “can potentially last a lifetime.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers would like to eliminate all penalties — including fines — for possession of marijuana under 25 grams. Here, a glass pipe, lighter and marijuana are seen at a party in Madison, Wis., on Jan. 25, 2019. (Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Watch)
Under Evers’ plan, Michael could not be arrested for the eighth of an ounce of marijuana he was carrying — 3.5 grams. Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, introduced a bill that would go further by legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana for all adult uses. If full legalization were to pass, employers like Michael’s would be barred from firing employees for marijuana use outside of the workplace.
That is because Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Act bars discrimination based on “use or nonuse of lawful products,” said Jim Chiolino of the Department of Workforce Development’s Equal Rights Division. It is like cigarettes, he explained: “It’s a legal product. They can say, ‘You can’t use it on my premises,’ but they can’t discriminate against somebody who uses cigarettes.”
Megan Osowski is homeless services program director at the Tenant Resource Center in Madison, Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve the relationship between tenants and landlords. She said she regularly sees clients with criminal records get turned down by landlords, especially at the big rental companies where the potential tenant does not get to meet the decision-maker to explain his or her record.
In many places, a criminal record can also render a person ineligible for government-subsidized housing. The city of Madison’s Community Development Authority performs background checks on applicants and can cite “criminal activity” as a basis for denial.
The American Bar Association’s National Inventory of the Collateral Consequences of Conviction lists 641 negative consequences of nonviolent drug convictions. A U.S. Government Accountability Office review found that more than three-fourths of them “can potentially last a lifetime.”
And for college students caught with marijuana or other drugs, a conviction can be costly. Those who are convicted of drug-related offenses that occurred while they were receiving federal financial aid will lose their eligibility for future aid, although they can become eligible again by completing a drug rehabilitation program.
There are other costs. While Michael was in college, he tried to rent a room at a local motel, which advertised student rates. “They had a big sign: ‘Student rentals, student rates,’ ” Michael recalled. But he was denied that rate, $560 a month, on the basis of his criminal record.
He was told he could pay the $1,700 standard rate. “I said, ‘Well, honestly, dude, if somebody was selling drugs, they would be able to pay the $1,700, and that — right off the bat — would tell you that they’re selling drugs. But here I am, trying to tell you that I’m a student, and I’m broke.’ ”
The arrest at the bowling alley was not Michael’s first offense. He had a felony on his record for fleeing the police when he was 16; he had a marijuana pipe in his pocket and feared arrest. But he said the misdemeanor marijuana conviction was actually a bigger barrier because it branded him as a drug criminal.
With that record, Michael struggled to find work. Because he had been fired, he could not use his past job as a reference. In Wisconsin, anyone, including employers and landlords, can easily check another person’s criminal record for free by visiting the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website, commonly referred to as CCAP.
In rural Wisconsin, job-searching or working meant asking for rides or driving illegally.
Marijuana plants are seen at the home of “Michael” in Michigan. He uses the plant to relieve symptoms of HIV-related pain, nausea and loss of appetite. Michael was arrested for marijuana possession in Wisconsin in 1997, which had cascading negative effects on his life. “Michael” is a pseudonym because he fears social and professional stigma of having a criminal conviction. (Courtesy of the subject)
“You’re almost told to break the law,” Michael said.
Michael bounced in and out of jail as his probation was revoked for new marijuana possession charges and for refusing to continue in-patient drug treatment, which he said cost him hundreds of dollars per day.
“I was told I should not worry about the cost and I should just concentrate on getting better,” Michael said. “I was the only one in the program classified with cannabis dependence; the other patients had severe alcoholism and other hard-core drug addictions. No one in the program could believe that I was only there for smoking marijuana.” His state income tax refund was garnished to pay the cost of the few days he was enrolled.
“It spiraled into a life of petty crime until I finally said, ‘Enough’s enough.’ Once you see my criminal record, you’ll be like, ‘Damn,’ because it just snowballs down. You can’t get jobs, you can’t get anything,” Michael said.
Michael’s ensuing convictions included car theft, marijuana possession with intent to deliver and manufacture or delivery of cocaine. He served a total of five years in prison before going back to school and eventually earning a marketing degree from a Wisconsin university.
Earlier this year, he started a new job where he puts his college degree to use. Michael, who now lives in Michigan, still uses marijuana, but now it is to treat HIV-related pain, nausea and loss of appetite. He uses marijuana in place of other, notoriously expensive, medications for HIV.
Under Wisconsin law, some types of discrimination based on criminal record are illegal. Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Act allows refusal to hire on the basis of conviction only if the conviction is “substantially related” to the particular job.
An employer hiring a clerk in a retail store, for example, can legally discriminate against someone with a conviction for theft, Chiolino said.
Jim Chiolino of the Department of Workforce Development’s Equal Rights Division says Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Act only allows employers to consider a person’s arrest or conviction record when the crime is “substantially related” to the job. He is photographed in his office on April 18, 2019. (Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Watch)
“Drug offenses fall into what I call a gray area,” said Kori Ashley, a staff attorney for Legal Action of Wisconsin’s Road to Opportunity Project. “That language — ‘substantially related’ — it’s not defined in the statute, and so employers get a lot of discretion in determining what that really means. And drug offenses are prime for an employer being able to even tangentially link it to a type of employment, whether it’s working with children or working in a manufacturing company or even in customer service.”
Chiolino argues that the rules are not so fuzzy, and that legally, having a drug charge should not affect most people’s eligibility for employment. “Yes, there are gray areas that we would have to decide on a case-by-case basis, but generally speaking, if somebody has a conviction for possession of a narcotic that’s illegal … it’s not going to be related to lots of jobs,” he said.
In 2018, 294 complaints alleging employment discrimination based on conviction records were filed with DWD. Of the allegations that were resolved that year, probable discrimination was found in only about 22%. An additional 17% of the allegations were dismissed after the parties reached private settlements. The rest either were dismissed or were found to have no probable cause of discrimination.
In the Wisconsin rental market, people with criminal records are unprotected: It is legal in the state to refuse to rent to someone because of his or her criminal history. Arrest and conviction status were once protected categories in Madison and Dane County, but now, because of a pre-emption passed by the Legislature in 2011, they are legal grounds across the state to refuse a rental.
“I find as soon as somebody has one possession charge, it gets significantly harder to find a place,” Osowski said, adding that it is not always clear why the landlord is denying a person’s rental application.
Vincent Southerland, executive director of the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at New York University’s law school, says marijuana convictions create lasting barriers to accessing housing, education and employment. “You know, those are pretty much the building blocks of a successful life. Talk about the punishment not fitting the crime. It’s a tremendous, life-altering change that’s permanent for a very temporary and fleeting criminal offense,” Southerland says. (Courtesy of Vincent Southerland)
Landlords in Madison were once required to disclose the reason for their refusal, but that is no longer the case.
“If you apply to most kinds of subsidized housing … they’ll give you reasons, they’ll check the box. And I’ve had people (landlords) check that criminal history box for anything,” Osowski said.
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued recommendations for landlords on how to consider applicants’ criminal records so as to avoid indirect discrimination. Landlords could be sued under the Fair Housing Act only if their consideration of criminal records can be shown to have a discriminatory effect under one of the protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status or national origin.
Convictions for marijuana possession exact a steep price, said Vincent Southerland, executive director of the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at New York University’s law school.
“The consequences are pretty significant, affecting some of the most important aspects of somebody’s life, like their housing, education and employment,” Southerland said. “You know, those are pretty much the building blocks of a successful life. Talk about the punishment not fitting the crime. It’s a tremendous, life-altering change that’s permanent for a very temporary and fleeting criminal offense.”
Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on government integrity and quality of life issues.

created: November 7, 2019

author: Natalie Yahr, Wisconsin Watch


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Dwayne Burtin
October 28, 2019

created: October 28, 2019

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Dwayne Burtin
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NNS on Lake Effect: 5 Things to know this November in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
November 7, 2019
NNS’s Adam Carr joined WUWM’s Joy Powers for our monthly “5 Things” preview, discussing events taking place throughout Milwaukee neighborhoods in November.
This month’s haul includes events from Latino Arts, Inc., Black Lens MKE and Safe & Sound, No Studios, Circulate Creative Entrepreneur Market and some suggestions on how to spend local on Black Friday.
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author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 7, 2019
“1105b1”. Released: 2019.

author: Adam Carr


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 7, 2019


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5 things to do this weekend: Nov. 8 to Nov. 10 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 8, 2019
Nō Studios will be screening “Blood is at the Doorstep,” a documentary that follows the aftermath of the shooting of Dontre Hamilton, as part of its Social Justice Summit. (Photo provided by Nō Studios)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your weekend. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Social Justice Summit screening: Friday, Nov. 8
Nō Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., will screen “Blood is at the doorstep” on Friday, Nov. 8. The documentary follows the aftermath of the shooting of Dontre Hamilton, who was shot and killed by a Milwaukee police officer in 2014. After the film, there will be a talk with Dontre’s mother, Maria Hamilton. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are free and can be found here.
2. Healthcare enrollment labs: Friday, Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 9
Health Insurance Marketplace will help people enroll in healthcare on Friday Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 9. Licensed healthcare navigators will be on hand to help guide people through the healthcare process, be they uninsured or curious about their insurance options under the Affordable Care Act. Friday’s clinic will be held at the Zablocki Library, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday’s clinic will be held at the Capitol Street Library from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call (414) 270-4677 for an appointment. Walk-ins are accepted if time allows. There will be additional enrollment dates throughout the month.
3. Creatives of color happy hour: Friday, Nov. 8
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LUNA is hosting a happy hour mixer for creatives of color on Friday, Nov. 8. The event is an opportunity for local creatives, be they writers, musicians, dancers or visual artists, to come together for an evening of networking and socializing. Happy hour will be held at LUNA, 1037 S. Cesar Chavez Drive, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is for creatives 21 and older. Guests are encouraged to BYOB as there will be limited drinks provided.
4. “Mother & Son superhero night”: Saturday, Nov. 9
Milwaukee Recreation is looking for volunteers for its second annual “Mother & Son Superhero Night” on Saturday, Nov. 9. The event, now sold out, features mothers and sons who participate in an evening of arts and crafts, superhero activities and more. The event will take place at Hamilton High School, 6215 W. Warnimont Ave., from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Those interested can sign up here.
5. Celebrating poet laureate Dasha Kelly: Sunday, Nov. 10
The Milwaukee Public Library recently named Dasha Kelly as its poet laureate for 2019 to 2021. The library will be celebrating Kelly on Sunday, Nov. 10. The event will take place at the Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. at 2 p.m.
Bonus: Milwaukee winter farmers market: Saturday, Nov. 9
The 11th season of the Milwaukee winter farmers market is in full swing. Every Saturday from now until March 28 (except Nov. 30), vendors will be selling their products in the Greenhouse Annex at the Mitchell Park Domes, 524 S. Layton Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be over 50 vendors and a plethora of local goods to sample and purchase.

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OPINION: There’s new-found momentum for affordable homeownership in Milwaukee. Let’s not mess it up, local and state leaders. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bethany Sanchez
November 8, 2019
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Editor’s note: Got 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.
Bethany Sanchez is the senior administrator of the Fair Lending Program of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council. She writes about Milwaukee’s lagging homeownership rates — particularly among black residents — and potential solutions to the challenge.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Milwaukee? Beer? Brats? Baseball? Low rates of homeownership?
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The first three are traditions worth keeping, recalling the history, food and sport that bind our community. Regrettably, the fourth is just as much a part of our region’s reality. Only it divides: rich from poor, black from white, owner from renter.
Owning a home offers stability and sustainability. Renters may not know where they will live from year to year; ownership delivers permanence. Tenants can’t control rising rents; a fixed-rate mortgage stabilizes monthly housing expenses.
Homeownership builds both wealth and community, too. Homeowners enjoy a median net worth 44 times the wealth of renters ($230,000 vs. $5,200), says the Federal Reserve Board, much of that tied to the equity in their homes. Owners are more engaged in schools, youth activities and civic organizations because they hold a stake in their neighborhoods.
But too many in our region are being shortchanged because there are too few homes for them to own. For the good of Milwaukee, we need more homes and more homeowners.
Nationwide, 64% of Americans own their homes. In Milwaukee, merely 52% do. And the challenges are substantially greater for lower-income households and people of color. The differences are as plain as black and white – literally.
Black homeownership rates in the U.S. have trended downward since last decade’s housing crash. This past quarter, they fell to 40.6% – below the rate when the Fair Housing Act was enacted in 1968. But that bleak rate is downright rosy when contrasted with Milwaukee’s black homeownership rate of 29%. There is a gap of 40 percentage points between white and black homeownership in Milwaukee, according to a 2018 report of the Washington-based Urban Institute, a figure exceeded by just eight other metro areas in the country.
We can’t blame the cost of housing here. We are one of the most affordable big cities in the nation. The average house costs $139,900, the fifth lowest of metro areas and 38% lower than the U.S. average, according to the firm RealtyHop
The problem isn’t cost, it is lack of supply. It is a scarcity that Milwaukee shares with much of the country. Just seven new homes are being built in the U.S. for every 10 newly formed households, leaving us with a shortage of homes totaling in the millions.
In our region, new-home production for the first half of 2019 is just 85% of what it was a year ago and lower than any year since 2015, according to MTD Marketing Services of Wisconsin. While new home construction is generally not targeted at the so-called affordable market (the average price of new homes exceeds $384,000), it creates move-up opportunities for existing homeowners, making their houses available for entry-level buyers.
Home construction is a task made more difficult by costly building regulations, burdensome land-use ordinances and tight underwriting for borrowers.
But amid the despair, there is reason to hope that better days are ahead.
Locally, Take Root Milwaukee, a 9-year old consortium of more than 40 organizations, is making important contributions to affordable and sustainable homeownership through buyer education and other low-cost services.
Nationally, the Affordable Homeownership Coalition is advocating to change laws, regulations and business practices that block new construction or artificially reduce the number of borrowers who can qualify for home mortgages. The coalition is a bi-partisan alliance of home builders, lenders, real estate professionals, community development organizations and civil rights groups united by their common resolve to increase homeownership to meet America’s housing and financial needs.
Somewhat stunningly, politicians of both parties now agree on the need for more homeownership.
This spring, a congressional committee conducted an extensive examination into obstacles and solutions related to minority homeownership; both the House and Senate passed bills cutting FHA insurance premiums for borrowers who undergo homeownership counseling; and the Federal Housing Finance Agency recently authorized the use of alternative credit scoring models, which could markedly increase the number of borrowers who can be considered for home loans.
The Trump administration got into the act this summer by creating a multi-agency council tasked with eliminating regulatory barriers to affordable housing.
Now, local and state leaders must follow suit and advance new policies to encourage, ease and speed the construction of new homes. We can’t afford to squander this new-found momentum for affordable homeownership that holds the promise of transforming our community’s economic and social well-being one family at a time.

author: Bethany Sanchez


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Post from Community: As temperatures drop, the Milwaukee Continuum of Care will provide warming rooms for Milwaukee’s homeless | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Continuum of Care
November 8, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
In response to low temperatures forecasted for next week, the following partners of the Milwaukee Continuum of Care will be providing overnight shelters for anyone unsheltered from the cold. Warming room locations will open on nights when temperatures are forecasted to be 20 degrees or below.
The Continuum of Care’s emergency shelters, Guest House of Milwaukee and Salvation Army of Milwaukee, have also recently expanded overnight shelter capacity to keep more people safe out of the cold weather. Additional Milwaukee warming room location information will be announced at a later date.
The following locations are available for those seeking safety from the cold during the daytime in Milwaukee County:
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All those seeking shelter, energy assistance or other supportive services in Milwaukee County should contact 2-1-1 for assistance and referrals to community resources through any of the following means:
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ABOUT THE CONTINUUM OF CARE:
The Milwaukee Continuum of Care is a 100+ member strong consortium open to any organization or individual interested in services and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness. The Continuum meets monthly to work on issues and opportunities including grant opportunities and strategic planning. For more information, visit:

author: Milwaukee Continuum of Care


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Post from Community: MATC, Marquette and UWM students to help seniors as part of “Make a Difference Day” | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
November 8, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
More than 800 student volunteers from Milwaukee Area Technical College, Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin  will come together Saturday, Nov. 9, to help older adults across Milwaukee County get ready for Wisconsin’s winter.
The event, cohosted by the three institutions, is part of “Make a Difference Day,” an annual nationwide event in which organizations join forces to elevate community service.
This year, student volunteers will visit more than 150 homes throughout the county to assist older adults with raking leaves, cleaning yards and providing a friendly visitor, ensuring they are able to stay safe, warm and independent in their homes this winter.
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One-third of older adults live alone, and many cannot complete the outdoor tasks required as the winter months approach. In addition, according to the Milwaukee County Department on Aging Area Plan for 2019-2021, when compared to the the state of Wisconsin as a whole, Milwaukee has a higher percentage of people age 65 years and over living alone.
The Make a Difference Day event also is in partnership with Eras Senior Network state of Wisconsin as a whole, Milwaukee has a higher percentage of people age 65 years and over living alone. Inc., a nonprofit organization aimed at engaging and supporting seniors in leading meaningful lives.
“Every year, seniors look forward to students arriving to help with home projects. Without help, seniors may try to do the work themselves and be at risk of falls in their homes,” said Kathy Gale, executive director of Eras Senior Network. “Falls can be devastating for seniors, resulting in hospitalization and loss of independence. The students’ hours of service are making an appreciable difference for vulnerable neighborhoods.”
Make a Difference Day is a collaboration among and MATC’s Center for Engaged and Service-Learning, Marquette’s Sorority and Fraternity Life and the Center for Community Service and UWM’s Center for Community-Based Learning, Leadership and Research.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the national standard for academics and student services.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Nov. 11 to Nov. 16 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 11, 2019
This week you can meet Public Allies Milwaukee’s Class of 2020. (Photo provided by Public Allies)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events we think you shouldn’t miss. 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. “My Sherman Park” documentary: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Black Lens MKE and Milwaukee Film, along with Safe and Sound, are presenting the documentary “My Sherman Park” on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The film features the voices of residents and youths who live in Sherman Park. The screening, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave.
2. Expungement clinic: Wednesday, Nov. 13
The Milwaukee Justice Center Mobile Legal Clinic will host an expungement clinic from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Zablocki Library, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave. To schedule an appointment, call (414) 278-2046 or email expungemke@gmail.com.
3. Pinto con Tinto: Alebrijes: Thursday, Nov. 14
Latino Arts, 1028 S. 9th St., is hosting Pinto con Tinto on Thursday, Nov. 14. Participants will create their own alebrijes, a colorful and mythical animal spirit guide often associated with Dia de los Muertos. There will be wine, tapas and guided instruction. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.
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4. Victress Vibes and TRUU Art fundraiser: Thursday, Nov. 14
Victress Vibes and TRUU Art are joining forces to launch their fundraising campaign on Thursday, Nov. 14. The event, which will showcase female and minority artists, will include a silent auction, live painting and a free raffle. It will be held at the Sugar Maple, 441 E. Lincoln Ave., from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
5. Public Allies Milwaukee: Meet the Class of 2020: Friday, Nov. 15
Public Allies Milwaukee is introducing its Class of 2020 on Friday, Nov. 15. The group is part of a national movement that focuses on bringing social justice and equity to communities. During the event, guests can meet next year’s leaders. The event is free and will be held at Latino Arts, 1028 S. 9th St., from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those interested are asked to RSVP by Monday, Nov. 11.
Bonus: PodFest MKE: Thursday, Nov. 14
Interested in podcasting or hoping to enhance your skills, consider attending PodFest MKE at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., on Thursday, Nov. 14. The event will be broken into two parts: educational from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and entertainment from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for the entire day or $10 for the entertainment part.

created: November 11, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 10, 2019

created: November 10, 2019


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hansonbanksgillam | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 10, 2019


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PUBLICALLIES | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 10, 2019


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How should Milwaukee position itself to thrive in the future? | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
November 11, 2019
BizTimes Milwaukee


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OPINION: We need more than hope and promises. Ascension should sign a formal community benefits agreement. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rick Banks, Nate Gilliam and Jack Hanson
November 11, 2019
(Photo by Andrea Warren)
Editor’s note: Got 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.
(Banks, Gilliam and Hanson)
Rick Banks serves as political director/organizer for Black Leaders Organizing for Communities; Nate Gilliam serves as organizer for Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals; and Jack Hanson is the research and policy analyst for the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization.
When the news broke in April 2018 that Ascension Health intended to dramatically cut services at St. Joseph Hospital, the last remaining general hospital on Milwaukee’s North Side, community members mobilized to save the hospital.  Our group, the St. Joe’s Accountability Coalition, or SJAC, was born out of that fight to maintain quality healthcare services in a desperately underserved, mostly black area of the city.
Since then, SJAC has made it its mission not only to ensure that the hospital stays open, but also to work with Ascension to make it the type of facility the community wants, needs and deserves.
As it stands, however, we go simply on hope and promises. Our communities have seen hopes and promises come and go far too many times. That’s why we’re calling on Ascension to sign a formal community benefits agreement — a legally binding, directly enforceable contract with the community — to ensure that our voices are heard, our needs are met, and Ascension’s promises are kept.
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Ascension says that a community benefits agreement is not needed for St. Joe’s and that such agreements “do not apply to health systems.”  Ascension has instead focused its efforts on drumming up positive media attention for its latest community health needs assessment, or CHNA, and community health improvement plan, or CHIP.
But let’s get real.
First, every nonprofit hospital in the country is required by federal law to conduct a CHNA every three years and to develop a CHIP based on the findings. Froedtert, Advocate Aurora and Pro Health are all complying with this requirement quietly, while Ascension is trying to spin its efforts as something innovative and unique. Quite simply, in conducting a CHNA and issuing a CHIP, Ascension is just complying with the law.
Second, in conducting this newest CHNA, Ascension broke with past practice and chose to designate the whole of Milwaukee County as the “community served” by St. Joe’s. But anyone who lives here knows that the neighborhoods around St. Joe’s face health challenges different from those in other parts of the county. Glossing over that difference — or, worse, simply ignoring it — undermines the credibility of the CHNA and CHIP. This could also easily lend itself to continued medical redlining, as we see Ascension choosing to invest in wealthier (and whiter) parts of southeast Wisconsin.
Finally, and most importantly, the CHNA and CHIP processes on their own do not hold hospitals accountable. SJAC would love to see the projects discussed in the latest Ascension CHIP brought to fruition, along with other needed programs and supports identified by the community, but not addressed in the CHIP. But the federal agencies tasked with implementing the CHNA and CHIP rules have little interest in — and even less capacity for — monitoring progress.  There are no sanctions for a hospital that fails to implement the projects discussed in its CHIP; the rules require only that a hospital publish a CHIP, not that it make good on it. That’s a big problem.
This is exactly why we need a binding, enforceable community benefits agreement with St. Joe’s.
The community also has valuable information and insight to offer Ascension concerning the future of St. Joe’s. Over the summer, SJAC conducted nearly 600 conversations with residents as we canvassed the neighborhoods around St. Joe’s. On Oct. 1, SJAC convened a town hall to release the results of our survey. Ascension representatives declined to attend.
Our survey results showed, very clearly, that community members want Ascension to operate an urgent care center in the neighborhood; to deliver healthcare without racial bias; to provide housing assistance and greater support for affordable housing; to hire locally and train people into living wage jobs with union rights; and to respect community voices.
As a tax-exempt nonprofit, Ascension is expected to serve a charitable purpose.  The corporation’s mission statement says that Ascension is committed “to serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.” We’re asking Ascension to use its considerable resources to do just that. Milwaukee’s North Side is vulnerable. Its social, economic and health needs are great. The path forward is clear. But Ascension needs to be fully accountable to our community.
We stand ready to collaborate with Ascension to plan the future of our hospital and build the future of our neighborhoods … whenever Ascension is ready.


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Post from Community: Health & healing strategies for leaders of color | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sky Schools
November 11, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
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author: Sky Schools


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IMG_4619 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 11, 2019


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Post from Community: Sherman Phoenix is turning one year old | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sherman Phoenix
November 11, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Whoever said, “Time does fly by”, was absolutely correct. What a year it has been for sure!  Ups, downs, twists, and turns…our journey to purpose is AMAZING, yet still we continue to rise. Sherman Phoenix is gearing up for a mega celebration where the guest of honor is YOU!
Join us, November 30th, as we recapture opening night filled with love, hope and thanksgiving for a project well received and overflowing with support!
Thank you to our generous sponsors, HGA, Associated Bank, Advocate Healthcare, and MillerCoors for making this special event possible and to all of our friends, family, partners and customers who support us unconditionally.
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We look forward to seeing you there! Click here to RSVP.
Want to be a vendor for our celebration? Sign up for Black Friday Marketplace 11/29~ 10am-5pm and Small Business Saturday Marketplace 11/30~ 10am-3pm. Vendor fees are $100 for both days or $75 for one day. Click the link below to register your business and join the celebration!
Vendor registration.
Looking for ways to support Sherman Phoenix? Consider becoming a sponsor or a donor. Click here to make a donation or see our sponsorship deck below to become a sponsor. #togetherwerise #shermanphoenixstillrising

author: Sherman Phoenix


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SP 2 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 11, 2019


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SP | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 11, 2019


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Post from Community: Woodland Pattern Book Center’s 39th anniversary gala | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Woodland Pattern Book Center
November 11, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Woodland Pattern Book Center’s 39 th Anniversary Gala
Saturday, November 16, 2019
The Cooperage, 820 S. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI
Poetry and song will meet onstage in Milwaukee on November 16 th at Woodland Pattern Book Center’s 39th Anniversary Gala.
Poet Ron Padgett, author of over twenty collections of poetry and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, will perform alongside neo soul-folk group Ruth B8r Ginsburg in support of Woodland Pattern Book Center, a poet-run nonprofit space in Riverwest that has been serving Milwaukee communities for nearly four decades.
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The choice to feature Padgett and Ruth B8 Ginsburg makes sense for the organization, which has perennially focused on promoting exchange among poets and other artists, while also acting as a bridge between national and local communities of artists.
In the 1970s and ’80s, Ron Padgett was a vital member of the Second Generation New York School Poets, a group of writers that was known not only for collaborating with their peers in the visual and performing arts, but also for founding nonacademic learning centers that serve local communities, such as the Poetry Project at St Mark’s Church in New York City, an organization where Padgett once served as director and which in key ways resembles Woodland Pattern in its mission and purpose.
Rising musical act Ruth B8r Ginsburg, on the other hand, was formed in Riverwest right around the corner from Woodland Pattern. The all-female group’s aim to “lift up the people’s voices” resonates with what Woodland Pattern’s directors, Jenny Gropp and Laura Solomon, see as the organization’s larger role in the community to facilitate not just creative expression, but also dialogue and critical thinking around issues of social justice.
Both women speak enthusiastically about the band’s songwriting: “Their lyrics approach everyday issues people in our city and country face, people who are marginalized, underserved, or systemicallyoppressed,” says Gropp, “and they compassionately ask people in positions of privilege to self-reflect on their interactions with others.” “What’s more,” added Solomon, “their messages are delivered in harmonies that convey solidarity without obscuring each member’s individual voice and power within the group dynamic—they have a fundamentally democratic sound.”
On this special occasion, Woodland Pattern will recognize members of the community whose contributions have made the organization’s work possible. Honorees will include writer Bill Embly, Woodland Pattern’s longest-serving volunteer, and the visual artist Jane Dalrymple-Hollo, a patron whose support helped Woodland Pattern purchase its historic Locust Street home last year.
The evening will begin at 5 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and a silent auction. Progra
mming, including recognition of honorees, and performances by Padgett and Ruth B8r Ginsburg, will begin at 7 PM.
Proceeds from the gala will benefit Woodland Pattern’s educational programming for children and adults and its many activities that support writers, artists, and musicians from Milwaukee and throughout the country.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.woodlandpattern.org or by calling 414-263-5001.
Reception + Program: $80 individual / $150 couple
Program Only: $25 advance / $30 door
About Woodland Pattern Book Center:
Woodland Pattern Book Center is a nonprofit literary arts organization located in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood. The center supports the work of writers and other artists from Milwaukee and beyond, and delivers year-round literary arts education and programming to people of all age groups and backgrounds. Since its inception in 1979, Woodland Pattern has presented nationally recognized exhibitions, readings, concerts, experimental films, artist talks, and artist-led classes to over 600,000 people.
Woodland Pattern’s public school outreach programs annually provide steady inter-arts writing classes to hundreds of underserved youth in Milwaukee.
The book center holds a carefully curated and nationally recognized collection of over 25,000 titles of poetry, small press literature, and literary ephemera, including broadsides, chapbooks, and zines—often published in conjunction with its programs. The organization’s Native American section is the largest in Wisconsin, and its selection of small-press poetry is the largest of its kind in the country. Because of the organization’s nonprofit status, inventory decisions are not driven by commercialism. Woodland Pattern hopes to act as a catalyst, putting readers together with small-press and marginalized literature.

author: Woodland Pattern Book Center


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Ruth B8r Ginsburg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 11, 2019


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Post from Community: Community advocates keep pressure high ahead of Common Council 2020 budget vote | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
African American Roundtable
November 11, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Milwaukee residents are a step closer to claiming a historic win over the city’s 2020 budget.
Today, the Common Council passed Amendment 42L, also known as the omnibus amendment. The amendment adds $240,000 for Birthing Moms Pilot Project, funds a Healthy Food Access coordinator, funds four Operations Drivers Workers and restores funding for bi-weekly street sweeping, $72,000 to increase pay for city EARN and LEARN participents, and $300,000 for Emergency Housing capital for lead displacement, homeless, and sex workers.
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“This amendment shows the Common Council listened to the residents at the Joint Public hearing, who asked for more investment in EARN and LEARN and housing,” said Devin Anderson, Lead Organizer for the African-American Roundtable.
The amendment reduces police overtime budget by $145,669, reduces police capital budget by $300,000, increases the stormwater fee by 1.15%, and eliminates $110,000 for the Bublr special fund.
Amendment 38D delays a 2020 police recruit class by a pay period which cuts $136,118 to increase the capacity of the Fire and Police Commission which oversees the Milwaukee Police Department.
Amendment 98 provides $300,000 for Violence Interrupters, by cutting police overtime by $300,000.
This is a critical step for community advocates who have pushed for divestment from policing in Milwaukee and a reinvestment of those funds towards community resources. The LiberateMKE campaign – which proposes that the $25 million divestment come from detailed cuts to police overtime, vehicles and equipment, and building renovations – surveyed Milwaukee residents on where reinvestments are needed most. The overwhelming majority indicated that communities need youth employment and transportation, economic opportunity through job training and financial literacy, and non-police violence prevention projects such as violence interrupter programs.
“All together, the police department will receive around $15 million dollars less than what they’d originally requested, denying a ballooning police budget,” said Rick Banks Political Director/Organizer at Black
Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC). “We applaud the Alders who heeded the words of community members that spending on enforcement at the expense of neighborhood investment is not acceptable. However, we recognize that MUCH more investment in community needs to be made and that this is just the start of continued organizing efforts.”
“This budget cycle is the beginning of the shift in conversations, actions, and resources in our city and the continual conversations we’re having in our communities about reimagining public safety,” said Markasa Tucker, Director of the African American Roundtable. “Addressing public safety includes resourcing the needs of our community for affordable quality housing, summer youth employment and non-police violence prevention. The mayor was a part of two hearings where the community shared their desires to resource very specific initiatives, it is our hope he agrees to this budget that the community and Common Council fought so hard to have.”
The Mayor has seven business days to issue any specific vetoes. 10 of the 15 alders will have to vote to override any veto by the Mayor. LiberateMKE is hopeful that the Mayor will sign this budget and truly support opportunities for communities to thrive. LiberateMKE will host a community event to discuss next steps and celebrate the work and organizing they did throughout this budget process.

author: African American Roundtable


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OPINION: A mother’s plea: ‘We must stand together as one’ to stop violence | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Shannon Allen
November 12, 2019
Shannon Allen finds peace at Graceland Cemetery where her son, DeAndre Allen, 27, is buried. Her son was fatally shot in 2016 and his killing remains unsolved. (Photo provided by Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Editor’s note: Got 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.
Marquette University’s O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism hosted “Healing the legacy of violence” last week at No Studios. Based on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s “Cycles of Violence” series by Ashley Luthern, the conference featured community leaders and family members who have lost loved ones to violence. Among the powerful speakers was Shannon Allen, whose son, DeAndre, was killed more than two years ago, on the day after Christmas. He was 27.
It is my opinion that in order to reduce violence in Milwaukee we must take back our communities.
A lot of times violence happens in our communities, and the first thing we do is move out of our neighborhoods to an area that we feel is safer.
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But what good does that do when the same individuals that ran you out your old neighborhood come into your new neighborhood?
Law enforcement, the DA’s office, city officials, community leaders/advocates and Milwaukee communities must come together as one and form a partnership that cannot be broken.
Everyone mentioned should be held accountable for their part in making Milwaukee safe again. If you start a stop-the-violence initiative, don’t just limit it to Burleigh, Center, Clarke, Fond du Lac areas. It must go beyond those areas, for example, to the entire South Side, North Side, East Side, West Side and Downtown Milwaukee.
By partnering together, we have a better chance of finding out what works and what doesn’t. Personally, all areas in the City of Milwaukee should be considered the “hot spot” because violence does not have a certain color or certain area. It’s happening every day, all day, throughout Milwaukee.
We need to tackle such issues as poverty, mental health, sex trafficking, AODA, unemployment, firearms and a lack of education, just to name a few. We must break these cycles, start knocking down these barriers, and we must stand together as one.

created: November 12, 2019

author: Shannon Allen


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 11, 2019


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NNS Spotlight: ‘He doesn’t want to be king but he’s a kingmaker’: Meet the man behind Coffee Makes You Black | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Andrea Waxman
November 12, 2019
Bradley Thurman, a former firefighter, started Coffee Makes You Black in 2001 with his wife, Laurie. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Editor’s note: This story is part of an occasional series  that highlights groups and people worth knowing in Milwaukee. To nominate a person or a group, email  info@milwaukeenns.org  and put “Spotlight” in the subject line.
Bradley Thurman has always been about business.
He’s owned a lock company, a bed-and-breakfast, a power-washing business and a pizza restaurant. He has won contracts to pick up deer killed by cars and renovated buildings along North Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
Independent and entrepreneurial from a young age, Thurman, 70, is still generating ideas about how to improve his business and the lives of the community’s youths.
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Thurman’s most well-known venture is the Coffee Makes You Black coffee shop, which he and his wife, Laurie, opened at 2803 N. Teutonia Ave. in 2001.
Located in a former bank building, the shop’s light-filled space features African art and images of black musicians and sports heroes. It has served as host for political leaders like Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Eric Holder and Tom Perez, as well as the late Public Broadcasting Service news anchor Gwen Ifill.
Thurman said he doesn’t know how he’s helped  to create a place that is “the go-to place politically, the go-to place for networking in this community, even the go-to place that crosses racial lines.” The stars just aligned, he said.
Thurman served as a Milwaukee Fire Department firefighter for 16 years and said it was his “best career move.” But, he added, “I’ve always had a deep interest in owning my own business more than working for somebody.”
Wanda Montgomery, the board chairwoman of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, said the shop is an important gathering place. “I can go in there any day of the week and see somebody that I know or I will meet somebody new,” she said.
Ashley Jones, an MATC student who lives on the Northwest Side, said Coffee Makes You Black is part of her daily routine. “I’ve been coming in since they first opened for the food, the people and the environment,” she said.
Loyal customers are showing Coffee Makes You Black their love despite earlier struggles because of road construction. In fact, the Thurmans are moving ahead with plans to expand the coffee shop to accommodate 300 for community events. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Coffee Makes You Black has struggled since April because construction on North Teutonia Avenue has depressed its flow of customers. But news reports that the Thurmans’ business was down more than 30 percent brought a surge of loyal customers back in late September.
Interrupted access has caused other businesses in the area to close, including a day care center that rented the Thurmans’ adjacent building. That is costing them $4,500-a-month in lost rent.
Before September news reports brought attention to Coffee Makes You Black’s plight, Thurman said, there hadn’t been more than six people in the restaurant at a time since April. “Everybody has wanted to come to our rescue now, which is a very good thing because we desperately needed it.”
The closure of the northbound lane across the street will continue to pose challenges. The project is expected to be completed next August, according to a Wisconsin Department of Transportation spokesman.
One of five siblings, Thurman was born and raised in the Brewers Hill neighborhood, where his 93-year-old mother still lives. He graduated from Lincoln High School, now Lincoln Center for the Arts, and UW-Oshkosh, where he majored in education.
At 29, attracted by the eight-days-a-month work schedule and medical benefits, the then-father of two young sons joined the fire department. He had a third son 19 years later. When he became an MFD lieutenant, Thurman began teaching young firefighters in addition to fighting fires. He retired from the department because of a back injury, he said.
Tall, fit and appearing younger than he is, Thurman said he started taking his health seriously five years ago. Diet changes and a regular swimming regimen have enabled him to lose 100 pounds, he said.
As a youth, Thurman said he was shaped by his experiences attending a Boys & Girls Clubs camp where he learned to love the outdoors.
Thurman was politically active in the Black Power movement in his 20s, said Ron Johnson (not the senator), who befriended him during that period. Johnson worked as a camp director for the Children’s Outing Association and shared Thurman’s love of outdoor activities.
In 1995, the two traveled with friends to Washington D.C., for the Million Man March and were inspired by a call to return home and do at least one thing to make their communities better.
For Thurman and Johnson that “one thing” was the establishment of a Father-Son Retreat, a fishing and camping experience for boys and their fathers or other adult male mentors. For 24 consecutive summers, they have taken a group to a campsite on the Mississippi River.
This year’s group numbered 61 boys and 22 men, Thurman said. Some who started going when they were children have now completed college and graduate school and become doctors and engineers. It has become “a community rite of passage,” where boys become men, Johnson said.
“I’ve always had an interest in helping the plight of our community,” Thurman said. He believes that he can do the most good working with youths “who are not yet set in their ways.”  And sometimes, he added, “the young people enlighten me with new ideas.”
Johnson called his friend “an icon, a stalwart community leader with very strong convictions.”
He said Thurman would not be the loudest voice at the front of a group.
Rather, he would be the one making things happen and working to support and build up others. “He doesn’t want to be king but he’s a kingmaker,” Johnson said.
7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed
7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Live music is offered 5 to 8 p.m.
Way of the Cross Missionary Baptist Church, 1401 W. Hadley St., and Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, 2829 N. Teutonia Ave.

author: Andrea Waxman


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48808480916_4e243f7736_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 11, 2019


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Post from Community: Third annual turkey giveaway | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Med Group Home Health Care
November 12, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!

author: Med Group Home Health Care


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Turkey | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 12, 2019


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Post from Community: Alverno College receives platinum seal for excellence in student voter engagement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Alverno College
November 12, 2019
(Photo courtesy of Alverno College)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Alverno College was honored at the 2019 ALL IN Challenge Awards Ceremony with a platinum seal for achieving a student voting rate above 50%. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge hosted its second biennial awards ceremony today where select higher education institutions, educators, and students were recognized for excellence in student voter engagement during the 2018 midterm elections. Award winners were selected for their exemplary leadership in supporting students form the habits of active and informed citizenship. More than 560 institutions enrolling over six million students are participating in the ALL IN Challenge.
“We are proud to be recognized for our efforts,” said Susan Leister, director of Alverno’s internship program and coordinator of the campus’ student voter initiatives. “Teaching our students to be lifelong effective citizens is woven into the fabric of an Alverno education. Our students have voices, they have opinions, and we show them how important it is for them to exercise their right to vote in order to have their voices heard.”
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From 2014 to 2018 student voter participation across the country more than doubled. The 2018 midterms were dubbed a “remarkable midterm election” by the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, a research study of the Institute for Democracy in Higher Education (IDHE) at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. The 2018 average institutional voting rate of 39.1% is far closer to those of the last two presidential elections (47.6% in 2012, 50.9% in 2016) than to the previous midterm (19.7% in 2014) according to the school’s recent study. Data provided by IDHE shows Alverno’s voting rate increased by 11.7%, from 49.3% in 2014 to 61% in 2018. Among Alverno students who are registered to vote, 82.2% voted in the 2018 midterm election.
“We are excited to honor Alverno College with an ALL IN Challenge platinum seal in recognition of their intentional efforts to increase democratic engagement and full voter participation,” said Jennifer Domagal-Goldman, executive director of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. “More institutions like Alverno are changing culture on campus by institutionalizing nonpartisan democratic engagement efforts that are resulting in the incredible student voter turnout rates that we’ve seen across the country.”
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a nonpartisan, national initiative recognizing and supporting campuses as they work to increase nonpartisan democratic engagement and full student voter participation. The Challenge encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, and make democratic participation a core value on their campus.
More than 560 campuses, enrolling more than 6.2 million students, have joined the Challenge since its launch in summer 2016. Learn more and see a full list of winning campuses at allinchallenge.org.
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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voting students.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
November 12, 2019

author: Name *


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NNS on WGLB radio: Reporter Bridget Fogarty shares community response to Strauss Brands saga | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
November 13, 2019
(Photo by Wes Tank)
Bridget Fogarty joined Saryea Murchison and Dennis Walton of WGLB radio to discuss recent news in Century City and the community’s response to the decision by Strauss Brands not to relocate to the area.
They cover the history of the 30th Street Business Corridor and what happened between the announcement of Strauss Brand’s potential relocation and the dropping of the deal. The three also talk about the importance of including residents in future business development plans.
Here’s a link to the story.
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Take a look at our Community Voices pieces from Jarrett English and Renee Lynn Glembin for more community perspectives on the issue.

created: November 13, 2019


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 13, 2019
“Track 1” from Untitled – 11-08-19. Track 1.


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NNS Video: A new chapter: Dasha Kelly Hamilton’s next big adventure | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Karen Slattery
November 13, 2019
Dasha Kelly Hamilton has a way with words, and the City of Milwaukee is honoring her for that gift.
Kelly Hamilton is Milwaukee’s new poet laureate. She received the recognition from the Milwaukee Public Library and the Friends of the Library as part of the Milwaukee Poet Laureate Project, which began in 2000. She is the 11th poet laureate and will serve the 2019-2021 term.
“She’s a poet, an artist, a woman and a change agent,” said Rachel Arndt, who spoke Sunday during the poet laureate’s inaugural in the library’s Richard E. and Lucile Krug Rare Books Room. Arndt is the public service area manager for the Milwaukee Public Library.
Kelly Hamilton has written two novels, three collections of poetry and recorded four CDs. Her writing has appeared in local, regional and national publications.
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Kelly Hamilton has a history of using her writing as a springboard to help others express themselves. She created a nonprofit, Still Waters Collective, nearly 20 years ago. The organization delivers programs to young people that focus on their writing and performing their work.
Friends and well-wishers surround Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly Hamilton during a ceremony at the Milwaukee Public Library. (Photo by Karen Slattery)
She said she invites people into conversations through poetry. Her focus is to help people find their voices and speak so they will be heard.
“There are people who don’t know that their voice is valuable, for a lot of reasons. They weren’t raised to believe that, they are in a city that may not value it or… they haven’t applied their voice in a way that fortifies that for themselves,” Kelly Hamilton said.
Milwaukee Public Library Director Paula Kiely said the new poet laureate will work with the library system to create programs in its branches that are designed to engage library users in conversations about the community.
Kelly Hamilton has taught workshops at home and abroad. She helped a class in Lebanon that wanted to introduce spoken-word poetry there. She’s also served as an arts envoy for the U.S. Embassy in Botswana and the island of Mauritius, where her work was aimed at community building.
She’s also taught at the Racine Correctional Institution. There, she met Daniel Scheidell, an inmate who was later exonerated, at a workshop created to help convicts use writing to express themselves.
Scheidell was one of the speakers at the inauguration, telling listeners that Kelly Hamilton participated in workshops, readings and a holiday program at the prison. “She brought anywhere from eight to 10 individuals, writers, comedians, you name it, they were there. And many of them returned many times.”
Kelly Hamilton told the audience that writing a poem is similar to working on a puzzle with words.
“I love stories and I love language and I love the effort of puzzling them together,” Kelly Hamilton said. “It’s taking them apart and putting them back together. It’s always better, it’s always clearer, it’s always shinier, and I always mean it more.”

author: Karen Slattery


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 12, 2019


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Program gives small businesses and entrepreneurs a helping hand (and money) | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
November 14, 2019
Alejandra Gonzalez sells Mexican ceramics out of a building that was rehabilitated with a Brew City Match grant. “It’s a big open space for me to fill, and it’s on a street with restaurants and churches and lots of activity,” Gonzalez says. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
Making big things happen for small businesses is one of the goals of Brew City Match, which is helping to change the economic landscape in several Milwaukee neighborhoods.
Launched in 2018, 59 projects have received support from Brew City Match. Many of them are based in the target neighborhoods of Historic King Drive, Cesar E. Chavez Drive and the North Avenue/Fond Du Lac business corridor, said Beth Haskovec, commercial revitalization program officer for the regional chapter of Local Initiative Support Corporation’s Milwaukee office, which is leading the initiative.
One of the projects that received funding support was Phase II of the Walnut Way Conservation Corp’s Innovations and Wellness Commons, a 1.5 story commercial building on North Avenue that will house independent clinicians, therapists, counselors and also feature retail space.
That project received a $25,000 award that helped pay for architectural and design renderings and some of the construction on the new Commons, which is expected to be completed in July 2020, said Antonio Butts, executive director of Walnut Way Conservation Corp.
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The second phase of the Innovations and Wellness Commons is projected to be completed by July 2020. The building on North Avenue will North Avenue will house independent clinicians, therapists, counselors and also feature retail space. (Rendering provided by Walnut Way Conservation Corp.)
The Match “is creating a lot of excitement and creating additional entry points for those looking to become entrepreneurs or those looking to expand opportunities for new businesses,” Butts said.
Brew City Match was created through a $3.5 million three-year investment from JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the world’s oldest and largest banks. Though led by LISC,  the initiative is also supported by other partners, including the City of Milwaukee, Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Savings & Loan, Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation  and MKE United, which are leveraging resources to provide financial and other support to multiple projects.
Walnut Way received financing that helped prepare its building for tenants, while other winners received support for startup costs, business planning services or to find available real estate in the target neighborhoods, Haskovec said.
The businesses included day spas, catering, boutiques, restaurants and others. Ninety-two percent of Match winners are entrepreneurs of color and four of five winners are businesses owned by women, Haskovec said.
The Match also supported the restoration of a 4,500-square-foot building on the corner of South Cesar E. Chavez Drive and West Washington Street. The building had long been occupied by Fashion City, a clothing store whose owners moved their business online. That created an opportunity to rehab a building long in need of an upgrade, said Nelson Lang, property manager for El Rey Services, which owns the building.
Nelson said the project received $15,000 in support from Brew City Match, along with a match through a City of Milwaukee grant.
For the next several months, the space is being occupied by winners of Pop-Up MKE, another local initiative aimed at increasing minority entrepreneurship in the city.
Alejandra Gonzalez, who used to paint ceramics in her hometown of Guanajuato, Mexico,  is selling ceramic glasses, fruit baskets, jars and plant holders there. She said she loves the building and location.
“It’s a big open space for me to fill, and it’s on a street with restaurants and churches and lots of activity,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez shares the retail space with members of the LUNA Collective, a group of Latinx artists in Milwaukee.
LUNA, which has 20 active members, held a grand opening at the location in late October and will use the space to host workshops, photo shoots, and as a gallery and exhibit space, among other uses, said Rozalia Singh-Hernandez, a muralist and illustrator.
“It’s a great spot that’s in the middle of an active space,” she said.
Building owners or other prospective entrepreneurs have not missed their chance to receive support from Brew City Match. The next round of winners will be announced in 2020, Haskovec said.
“It’s very important to Milwaukee,” Butts said. “These are vital commercial corridors in Milwaukee that are getting some attention and support, which is going to help bring more resources to residents and people who want to launch their own business.”

created: November 14, 2019

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 13, 2019


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48948256756_c1446a0991_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 13, 2019


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5 things to do this weekend: Nov. 15 to Nov. 17 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 15, 2019
This month, 90 percent of proceeds from Amaranth Bakery & Café’s Indian and vegetarian lunch will go toward charity. (Photo provided by Amaranth Bakery & Cafe)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your weekend. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Holiday Happenings on West Vliet Street: Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16
West Vliet Street is celebrating the season with Holiday Happenings on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16. Milwaukeeans are invited to shop and eat local along West Vliet Street from 43rd to 60th streets. Holiday Happenings will take place on Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
2. Turkey giveaway: Saturday, Nov. 16
The Med Group Home Health Care, 2111 N. Martin Luther King Dr., is doing its third annual turkey giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 16. About 600 free turkeys will be given to families in need. There will also be flu shots, gift card raffles, gifts for the kids and cupcakes. Turkeys will be handed out on a first come first served basis. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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3. “Health & healing strategies for leaders of color”: Saturday, Nov. 16
Sky Schools is hosting “Health & Healing Strategies for Leaders of Color” at America’s Black Holocaust Museum, 401 W. North Ave., on Saturday, Nov. 16. Dr. Michael Allen is the keynote speaker for the event and there will be special appearance by Dahveed Nelson, a member of the Original Last Poets. The event also includes a panel discussion with local experts. General admission tickets cost $20 online and $25 at the door and VIP tickets cost $40 online and $50 at the door. To register, click here.
4. Native American Heritage Day: Saturday, Nov. 16
Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., is hosting Native American Heritage Day on Saturday, Nov. 16. Visitors are invited to learn about the history of Wisconsin’s tribal nations through presentations and performances. Heritage Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here for more information.
5. Center Street Wellness grand opening: Saturday, Nov. 16
Center Street Wellness, 2701 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 16. The store’s focus will be creating a space where community and wellness are combined. The grand opening will have yoga, massage therapy, a book sale and more. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bonus: Lunch at Amaranth: Saturday, Nov. 16
Enjoy an Indian and vegetarian meal at Amaranth Bakery & Cafe, 3329 W. Lisbon Ave., on Saturday, Nov. 16. This a part of a lunch series. It’s a pay-what-you-can meal and 90 percent of the proceeds will be donated to charity. The recipients this month include Feeding America and the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

created: November 15, 2019

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 14, 2019


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‘They think it’s a game’: Residents weigh in on reckless driving | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
November 15, 2019
A major accident on Layton Boulevard. (Photo by Adam Carr)
A string of tragic hit-and-run accidents have rocked Milwaukee in the past few weeks. Headlines about reckless driving are not new, which led us to ask — what has the toll been on the mindset of community members?
Richard D. Gilbert
Name: Richard D. Gilbert
Age: 50
Neighborhood: Capitol Heights
Richard D. Gilbert has been an MCTS bus driver for more than seven years.
“I really don’t think it (reckless driving) has anything to do with the police. People have to start taking accountability for their actions,” he said.
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Aside from what he sees on a daily basis as a bus driver, his family has also been personally affected by reckless driving. His sister-in-law was killed by a reckless driver in a stolen vehicle in October 2017.
The drivers “are in a rush, and they are not taking driving as seriously as they should. They (young drivers) think it’s a game.”
Gilbert said the biggest offense he sees are drivers running red lights. He stated Capitol Drive, Fond du Lac Avenue and Sherman Boulevard are some of the hot spots where he sees the most reckless driving.
“I’m moving to another state or in the suburbs where I think it will be safer for me and my family.”
Interview by Damia Causey
Rocío Leyva (right) and her family
Name: Rocío Leyva
Age: 46
Neighborhood: Clarke Square
Rocío Leyva’s son attends school in the Clarke Square neighborhood. She is part of the group Parents and Friends of Clarke Square, which makes sure children get to and from school safely. Leyva, along with other parents, is especially vigilant when crossing the street because of the number of reckless drivers.
The drivers “have no respect for the people crossing the street,” she said.
Leyva said people always seem to be in a rush to get somewhere. The reckless drivers don’t make stops and are putting children and adults in danger, even in school zones.
She said people need to be aware of their driving or face the consequences.
Interview by Ana Martinez-Ortiz
Areiale Hudson
Name: Areiale Hudson
Age: 18
Neighborhood: Garden Homes
Quote: “About six years ago, I had a cousin who passed away by someone driving recklessly who hit him. I feel like people are not as aware and attentive as they should be when they are driving.
A lot of different things can play a role but being careless due to overconfidence is the main thing I’ve seen. It doesn’t matter how good of a driver you are, you always need to be paying attention. You never know who’s going to pop out or what might happen.”
Interview by Sam Woods
Howard Snyder
Name: Howard Snyder
Age: 69
Neighborhood: North Side (lives on the East Side)
Howard Snyder, executive director of Northwest Side Community Development Corporation, takes Capitol Drive to and from work every day. He frequently sees drivers speeding and running red lights. This type of driving is new, he said.
Snyder believes people don’t want to be in a neighborhood where reckless driving occurs at increasingly high intervals.
Snyder takes issue with tragic accidents being considered a “rookie mistake.” To him, this implies the driver is on a learning curve, like they’ll get another chance to get behind the wheel. “How can you run over a kid and call it a rookie mistake?” he asked.
From Snyder’s perspective, part of the problem is remorselessness. Reckless drivers will hit someone or something and keep going without caring about the impact of their actions. “You get a lot of people who put their foot on the pedal and don’t let up till they get to their destination,” he said.
He also said there needs to be more law enforcement and measures taken such as red-light cameras.
Interview by Ana Martinez-Ortiz
Angelica Hernandez-Ayala
Name: Angelica Hernandez-Ayala
Age: 36
Neighborhood: Jackson Park
Quote: “As a mother, as an educator and as an individual, (reckless driving) indeed affects me. Every day I have to worry not only about myself but my children and students as well. I personally never let my children walk alone or even play near the streets because of everything you hear that goes on in our city.
As far as my students, I check the news every day to see what’s going on in our schools’ neighborhood to make sure that my little ones are safe. And I must say that I always have that sense of nervousness when I watch and only hope that I don’t see one of my students on the news.
We teach our students at a young age to be safe and even how to cross the street, but there is no way to teach them how to deal with irresponsible drivers.”
Interview by Claudia Delgadillo
Aitza Cabrera
Name: Aitza Cabrera
Neighborhood: West Allis/West Milwaukee
Age: 20
As a commuter student at Marquette University, Aitza Cabrera takes the bus to and from school almost daily. Though being in a bus with an experienced driver may seem safer, Cabrera said reckless driving has also impacted bus transportation.
“Numerous times, the bus had to forcefully stop due to a reckless driver getting in the way,” she said. “It’s unexpected and sometimes causes the passengers and me to grip tightly onto something to prevent ourselves from flinging forward and getting injured.”
Cabrera has also noticed cars speed up on right next to the bus to get in front of it, many times on narrow streets.
“I think increased use of substances such as drugs and alcohol have been a factor of reckless driving,” she said.
Interview by Bridget Fogarty

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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rd-collage | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 14, 2019

author: Adam Carr


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Post from Community: Fee just $10 for snow plowing license in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ald. Cavalier Johnson
November 16, 2019
Editor’s note: Our Posts from the Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
As winter has made an unwelcome early arrival in Milwaukee, Alderman Cavalier Johnson is reminding snow removal operators that they can obtain a snow plowing equipment license for just $10 – and get their contact information posted online so potential customers can more easily contact them.
The City of Milwaukee does not plow alleys within the city, and city ordinance requires any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of removing snow or ice from public sidewalks or public alleys to obtain a license to do so. Residents will typically band together to hire a contractor to plow their alley during the winter, and when contractors obtain a snow plowing equipment license their information can be readily found by prospective customers, Alderman Johnson said.
“In the past we’ve heard from residents that it is increasingly difficult to find contractors to do the (plowing) work. I urge more private plow contractors to get their licenses so they can connect with residents in need of their services,” the alderman said.
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Licensed plowing contractors are listed on the License Division web page at milwaukee.gov/license – and that is also where the snow plowing equipment license applications can be found.
Applicants can also email questions to license@milwaukee.gov.

created: November 16, 2019

author: Ald. Cavalier Johnson


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Nov. 18 to Nov. 23 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 18, 2019
Reggie Jackson will be honored Thursday at this year’s Frank P. Zeidler Legacy Breakfast. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events we think you shouldn’t miss. 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. Jaquira Díaz at Boswell Books: Tuesday, Nov. 19
Jaquira Díaz, the author of “Ordinary Girls,” will be at Boswell Books, 2559 N. Downer Ave., on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The memoir details what it was like to grow up in the housing projects in Puerto Rico and Miami Beach. The event starts at 7 p.m.
2. Paul Wellington at Tippecanoe Library: Wednesday, Nov. 20
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Paul Wellington will be at Tippecanoe Library, 3912 S. Howell St., on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Wellington is the author of “Black Built: History and Architecture in the Black Community.” He is also the cofounder of MKE Black, which explores the works of black architects. The event starts at 6 p.m.
3. Black Lives Matter at School Week Curriculum Night: Wednesday, Nov. 20
Community members and educators are invited to learn the history of the Black Lives Matter movement on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The Black Educators Caucus MKE will be on hand to talk about curriculum resources and lesson plans. Curriculum Night will take place at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, 3275 N. 3rd St., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
4. LIT power hour: Wednesday, Nov. 20
Leaders Igniting Transformation, better known as LIT, is hosting a power hour at the Underground Collaborative, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., lower floor, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The event is free and will focus on the intersection of art and activism in black and brown communities. There will be food, spoken word, voter registration and more. Power hour begins at 6 p.m.
5. Frank P. Zeidler Legacy Breakfast: Thursday, Nov. 21
Milwaukeeans are invited to the second annual Frank P. Zeidler Legacy Breakfast on Thursday, Nov. 21. The event is hosted by the Zeidler Center for Public Discussion. This year, Reggie Jackson will be honored. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased here. The breakfast will take place at the Wisconsin Club, 900 W. Wisconsin Ave., from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Bonus: Milwaukee NNS fundraising campaign: Friday, Nov. 1 to Tuesday, Dec. 31
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a nonprofit news organization. In order to survive and thrive, we rely on donations. Consider making a donation to our NewsMatch campaign, which ends Tuesday, Dec. 31. When you donate, NewsMatch will match your donation up to $1,000. Click here to donate.

created: November 18, 2019


text:
| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
November 17, 2019

created: November 17, 2019