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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Feb. 3 to Feb. 8 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 3, 2020
As part of Black Lives Matter Week, Rufus King International Middle School is hosting an open mic night. (File photo by Allison Dikanovic)
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. African Americans veterans day of honor: Monday, Feb. 3
The War Memorial Center, 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, is unveiling an exhibit that honors the contributions of African American men and women in the U.S. Military from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3. Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson, the Army’s first black female reserve officer to reach that rank, will be the keynote speaker.
2. Black Lives Matter poetry and open mic night: Wednesday, Feb. 5
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As part of Black Lives Matter Week, Rufus King International Middle School, 121 E. Hadley St., is hosting a poetry and open mic night. The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5. The event is free and open to the public. To register, click here.
3. City of Milwaukee career fair: Thursday, Feb. 6
The City of Milwaukee’s Department of Employee Relations is hosting a career fair in Milwaukee’s City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. Over 20 city departments are looking to hire, including City Treasurer, Common Council and Neighborhood Services. Workshops regarding benefits, the application process and more will be offered hourly from noon to 3 p.m. To register, click here.
4. Forum for Milwaukee County Executive candidates: Thursday, Feb. 6
A forum for candidates running in the Milwaukee County Executive race will take place at the Albright United Methodist Church, 5555 W. Capitol Drive from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. This is an opportunity to hear from the candidates themselves. The candidates include David Crowley, Bryan Kennedy, Chris Larson, Theodore A. Lipscomb Sr., Purnima Nath and Jim Sullivan.
5. Financial wellness fair at Center Street Wellness: Saturday, Feb. 8
Center Street Wellness, 2701 N. Martin Luther King Drive, is hosting a financial wellness fair from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. The workshop is free and will cover topics such as personal finance, debt management and community economics. The fair is in partnership with Ald. Milele A. Coggs, Educators Credit Union, WWBIC and several others.
Bonus: Screening of “Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in School”: Tuesday, Feb. 4
As part of Black Lives Matter Week, Milwaukee Public Schools is screening “Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in School” with a talk to follow. The film will be screened at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St., from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is recommended as space is limited.
Bonus: Long-term street closure: Monday, Feb. 3
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works will begin working on an underground sewer project on Monday, Feb. 3. Due to the nature of the project, North 27 Street will be closed from West Fond du Lac Avenue to West Center Street. The road will remain closed until early July. Traffic flow and signage is expected to change. Additionally, the MCTS Purple Line will be affected. To learn about detour information, click here.
In case you missed it: 9 way to celebrate Black History Month in Milwaukee

created: February 3, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 2, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: February 2, 2020

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

author: Adam Carr


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Post from Community: Phobruary 2020 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors
February 3, 2020
(Photo by Wes Tank)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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.
Enjoy $5 Pho from three participating restaurants on National Ave in Silver City Mon-Fri (dine-in only) throughout the month of February!
2020 Participating restaurants include :
-Bamboo Restuarant, 3427 W. National Ave
-Thai Bar-B-Que, 3417 W. National Ave
-Vientiane Noodle Shop, 3422 W National Ave
So, what is Pho (pronounced “fuh”) ?
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It’s a soup native to Vietnam, common in Laos and Thailand, which delivers a complex combination of flavors that dance on the tongue’s taste buds. It combines noodles with a choice of thinly-sliced beef, chicken, vegetables or shrimp, and also offers a multitude of garnishes and fresh herbs to tailor the soup to individual preferences. These typically include Thai Basil, sprouts, cilantro, limes, jalapeño, sauces, peppers, and other items. This delicious combination of flavors will satisfy your hunger by the time you get to the bottom of the bowl.
After trying the various Pho options, individuals may vote for their preferred restaurant on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LaytonBoulevardWestNeighbors/. The contest will run the last week of February, (2/24 – 2/29). The winning restaurant will be recognized at the end of Phobruary.
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¡Disfrute de $ 5 Pho de tres restaurantes participantes en National Ave. en Silver City de lunes a viernes (solo para comer ahi) durante todo el mes de febrero!
Los restaurantes participantes en 2020 incluyen:
-Bamboo Restuarant, 3427 W. National Ave
-Thai Bar-B-Que, 3417 W. National Ave
-Vientiane Noodle Shop, 3422 W National Ave
Entonces, ¿qué es Pho (pronunciado “fuh”)?
Es una sopa nativa de Vietnam, común en Laos y Tailandia, que ofrece una combinación compleja de sabores que bailan en las papilas gustativas de la lengua. Combina fideos con una selección de carne de res, pollo, verduras o camarones en rodajas finas, y también ofrece una gran cantidad de guarniciones y hierbas frescas para adaptar la sopa a las preferencias individuales. Estos suelen incluir albahaca tailandesa, brotes, cilantro, limas, jalapeños, salsas, pimientos y otros artículos. Esta deliciosa combinación de sabores satisfará tu hambre cuando llegues al fondo del tazón.
Después de probar las diversas opciones de Pho, las personas pueden votar por su restaurante preferido en Facebook en https://www.facebook.com/LaytonBoulevardWestNeighbours/. El concurso se llevará a cabo la última semana de febrero, (2/24 – 2/29). El restaurante ganador será reconocido a finales de febrero.

author: Layton Boulevard West Neighbors


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Don’t get left off the floor: Daddy Daughter Dance takes place Feb. 15 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Cynthia Crawford
February 4, 2020
If you are one of those people who likes to wait until the last minute, here’s some advice: Don’t.
The 17 annual Daddy Daughter Dance is taking place Saturday, Feb. 15 at North Division High School, and organizers say slots are filling up quickly.
The popular event celebrate dads and the daughters who love them.
Dinner will be served from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., and the doors open at 6:15 p.m. for dance-only guests.
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This program is made possible through a partnership between Milwaukee Recreation, the Social Development Commission and the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative.
You can register here.

created: February 4, 2020

author: Cynthia Crawford


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Help us spread the word: News414 is hiring | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
February 4, 2020
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, along with two other nonprofit newsrooms, is excited to be moving ahead on News414. If you know any outstanding candidates to help lead this project, please send them our way. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
We need your help.
And we need it quickly.
News414 is hiring a project manager and engagement manager to lead a public service journalism project that seeks to build connections to underserved Milwaukee neighborhoods, address residents’ most pressing needs and provide them with interactive text messages delivered to their phones.
The project is a collaborative effort of three nonprofit and nonpartisan news organizations — the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and Outlier Media. It is supported by the Google News Initiative.
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The newsrooms are joining forces to deliver news to residents of 18 Milwaukee neighborhoods that are underserved by traditional media. Using innovative technology and research techniques, the collaboration will build direct connections between newsrooms and neighborhood residents, investigate the neighborhoods’ most pressing issues and deliver accountability journalism to the residents and the broader public.
Information — both “news you can use” and in-depth pieces exploring the causes of problems plaguing low-income neighborhoods — will be texted directly to residents’ cell phones. Subscribers to the free texting service will also become crucial sources of news tips and on-the-ground information that may be published on Wisconsin Watch, NNS, and News414. (For more about this model, read this.)
The News414 Project Manager is responsible for coordinating the work of the three partner newsrooms and activities of other key figures, including the News414 Engagement Manager, to keep the project focused, on schedule and on budget.
Position description
The News414 Project Manager will:
This is a full-time contractor position. Some evening and weekend work is necessary.
This position is currently funded through mid-November 2020, and we will assess a potential extension as the project unfolds.
You should apply if you:
If you have just some of the skills listed here, or others we failed to list, please consider applying for this position.
Experience: We are looking for detail- and deadline-oriented candidates with experience managing projects. Successful applicants should be collaborative and have excellent interpersonal communication skills. Preference will be given to candidates with experience working with culturally diverse populations — and a zeal for ensuring that all are provided a voice in our society. The ideal candidate will have a deep knowledge of Milwaukee and its history; connections to community groups and organizations in the neighborhoods; the ability to work with diverse networks; ideas of how to engage and empower community members to participate in the project; and a passion for the role that journalism serves in our democracy. Experience in event planning and a knowledge of best social media practices are preferred.
Location: The News414 Project Manager will be based in Milwaukee and will have the option of working out of the NNS newsroom at Marquette University.
See details here for information about the engagement manager position.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
January 21, 2020

created: January 21, 2020


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New app aims to showcase Milwaukee’s black entrepreneurs and creatives | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Caroline White
February 4, 2020
Paul Wellington (left) and Rick Banks have made it their professional and personal missions to find ways to support black Milwaukee businesses. (Photo provided by MKE Black)
Like many grand plans, it came to Paul Wellington in the shower.
“It just popped into my head. ‘Why isn’t there an app that can tell me where black-owned businesses and organizations are in the city?’” Wellington, a local librarian and author, said.
Wellington called his old friend Rick Banks to tell him about his idea, and the two joined forces to form MKE Black, a smartphone app and more. The mission of MKE Black is to showcase and promote black establishments in the city. Right now, the two do so by sharing news articles on their Facebook page and creating an app where users can access a database of businesses, organizations, events and more. The app is already available for download from the Google Play Store and will be available on the Apple app store soon.
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Similar apps exist, but many struggle to stay current and only include brick and mortar businesses. Wellington sought to improve that standard. For the past few months, he has compiled a list of approximately 250 black-owned restaurants, shops, nonprofits, e-stores and more through research and public submissions.
One of those featured on the list, Imani Raiyne, creates and caters custom fruit bowl displays through her business Kreative Fruitz. She heard about MKE Black on social media and chose to submit her business because she was excited about the positive message it represents.
“To come together as a community and show all these small businesses is amazing,” she said. “It’s so important to do something positive.”
Although the app alone has been a big undertaking, Wellington and Banks have plans to grow MKE Black into something even bigger.
They are currently waiting for MKE Black to be federally approved as a nonprofit. The hope is that with more time, donations and grant money they can use MKE Black to help businesses with tools to succeed from advertising to technology.
Wellington and Banks are both born-and-raised Milwaukeeans who are passionate about their city’s black community. Wellington is a librarian and author who recently published a book about black architecture around the country entitled “Black Built: History and Architecture in the Black Community.” Banks is a community activist and the political director at Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC). For them, MKE Black is only the most recent project aimed toward lifting up Milwaukee’s black community.
“My passion and my personal ambition have always been the political and economic advancement of the black community in Milwaukee,” Banks said. “It drives me at my full-time job and in my personal life.”
The MKE Black App official launch party is Feb. 10 at SkyBox Sports Bar at 2213 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. at 6 p.m.

author: Caroline White


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 3, 2020


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NNS on WGLB radio: BLOC looks to build civic power on Milwaukee’s North Side | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
February 4, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
Sam Woods joined Saryea Murchison and Dennis Walton of WGLB radio to discuss the emergence of BLOC, also known as Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, as a force for building civic power on the North Side now and in the future.
In case you missed it: How one Milwaukee group plans to build civic power beyond the 2020 presidential election
They cover the founding of BLOC in November 2017, BLOC’s unique approach to political canvassing, and their vision for the future. The three also talk about the recent community listening sessions with Police Chief Alfonso Morales, and why some residents reporting leaving dissatisfied.
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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 4, 2020


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Post for Community: Despite new law raising purchase age to 21, tobacco will still disproportionately hurt the poor | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Lula Chambers
February 4, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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.
We’ve all seen the news. The federal minimum age to purchase tobacco is now 21, a change that was spurred by a nationwide epidemic of youth vaping in America’s suburbs. While that legislation should be celebrated, we must ask ourselves how this ruling will impact the tobacco industry’s largest customer base and most frequent target: The Poor.
The targeting of low-income communities by the tobacco industry has been well-documented. Strategies have included handing out free cigarettes to children in housing projects, targeted marketing through billboards and other ads, and point-of-sale promotions that advertise menthol, the product of choice in the African-American community. Another reason tobacco use rates are higher among low-income populations is because tobacco retailer density is higher in low-income communities, a fact that is not lost in Milwaukee, where tobacco retail density is twice as high in the central city than in the suburbs. In Wisconsin, 29 percent of those who earn less than $25,000 a year smoke, compared to 16 percent of the general population.
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As stated bluntly by the Truth Initiative, the largest non-profit working to end tobacco use, “Tobacco is Not an Equal Opportunity Killer.”
The new law raising the age to purchase tobacco and a recently introduced flavor ban will undoubtedly have an impact. Federal estimates project that youth smoking rates will drop drastically. But, the flavor ban excluded menthol, which African-American tobacco users tend to start at a later age, mitigating some of those impacts on a population that has historically been impacted by large health disparities.
We must ask ourselves, when will policy that has the greatest impact on poor communities of color become a priority and when will tobacco be treated as the social justice issue that it is?  Right now there are more questions than answers, and our communities will remain targets.

author: Lula Chambers


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Post from Community: ‘Lost and Found: Young Fathers in the Age of Unwed Parenthood’ book talk | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
UW-Milwaukee
February 4, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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.
Dr. Paul Florsheim will discuss his recent book “Lost and Found: Young Fathers in the Age of Unwed Parenthood” in conversation with Teran Powell, Race and Ethnicity reporter at WUWM.
Date: February 13, 2020
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211
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About the book:
Over the past six decades, there have been dramatic changes in the dynamics of family life in the United States. Today, about half of all babies born to mothers under the age of 25 will not live with their fathers for much of their childhood. Drawing from their research with young parents in Chicago and Salt Lake City, Florsheim and Moore chronicle the lives of several fathers as they transition to parenthood, weaving social history, developmental psychology and family therapy into their stories. “Lost and Found” concludes with an innovative proposal for father-inclusive prenatal care to help stabilize young families. “Lost and Found” is written to be accessible to non-academics by helping the reader make sense of what is happening to fatherhood in America in a way that is engaging and compelling and ultimately hopeful.
About the speakers:
Paul Florsheim is Professor of Community and Behavioral Health Promotion at UWM’s Joseph J Zilber School of Public Health where he teaches classes on public health and mental health. Paul continues to work with young fathers and mothers in Milwaukee, both as a researcher and a clinician. He also does research on child and adolescent mental health services and child abuse prevention.
Teran Powell is WUWM’s race & ethnicity reporter. She was selected as the station’s very first Eric Von Fellow after graduating from Marquette University with a degree in journalism. She has been a reporter for Marquette student media and the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, and has freelanced for the Shepherd Express and Fox 6 News.
This event is co-sponsored by the UW-Milwaukee Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health.

author: UW-Milwaukee


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Post from Community: MPS observes National Black Lives Matter Week of Action | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Schools
February 4, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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 Milwaukee community will have opportunities to listen, learn, and add their voices to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) narrative in order to bring about positive change. Leading off Black History Month in February, the National Black Lives Matter Week of Action, February 3–7, is designed to engage the community in topics that address four national demands and foster discussions and solutions to current issues.
The National Demands of the Week of Action are:
Milwaukee Public Schools and its partners—United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT), Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), Milwaukee Metropolitan Alliance of Black School Educators, Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, MTEA Black Educators Caucus, Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ), and the MPS Department of Black & Latino Male Achievement—will host public events focused on the national demands and BLM principles.
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A brief schedule of events is provided here.
February 3: Student-Led Discussion and Live Broadcast
February 4: Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in School – Movie Screening and Talk-Back
February 5: Black Lives Matter Poetry Open Mic Night
February 6: Intergenerational Snack and Kick-Back Night – Games and Conversations
February 7: Black Lives Matter: A Storytelling Social and Awards Night
Daily events are designed to promote exploration and discussion of important topics. Events are free and open to the public. To view the complete schedule, become involved, register for events, and learn more, visit mpsmke.com/blm.

author: Milwaukee Public Schools


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BREAKING: Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission to discuss whether to authorize independent investigation into MPD regarding Haywood Sr. video leak, interview. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 5, 2020
The leak of a video featuring prominent Milwaukee developer Kalan Haywood Sr. has emerged as a hot topic in the community. “I didn’t leak any video and I’m looking into it,” Milwaukee Police Department Chief Alfonso Morales said during a community listening session last month at UMOS. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)
The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission will meet Thursday, Feb. 6 to discuss a resolution to authorize an independent investigation into the Milwaukee Police Department after the leak of a video that shows prominent Milwaukee developer Kalan Haywood Sr. being questioned by officers.
Also on the agenda is a resolution to authorize an independent investigation into whether the interview of Haywood Sr. at the Sojourner Family Peace Center was appropriate or a violation of department rules.
The video is part of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault and shows Haywood Sr., who was accompanied by Steven DeVougas, a lawyer and chairman of the commission, being questioned by police. Haywood denied the allegations and has not been charged with a crime. Haywood is the founder of the Haywood Group, a prominent real estate development, investment and consulting firm.
Some have called the leak of the video a political maneuver to push forward the confirmation of Police Chief Alfonso Morales in late December. Others have accused DeVougas of violating ethics guidelines in support of a client.
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The actions come after a request from Mayor Tom Barrett, Sen. Lena Taylor and others to open a formal investigation into the leak and to investigate other issues that will be discussed Thursday, including a resolution to create ethical rules and a code of conduct for Fire and Police commissioners.
Among the concerns listed in Barrett’s letter to the commission were whether the video was released according to department rules, and if not, who leaked the video and whether he or she will be disciplined. Barrett also questioned whether it was appropriate to conduct the video at Sojourner Family Peace Center and whether DeVougas should have been present during the interview.
On Jan. 30, the MPD responded to criticism by confirming an ongoing investigation into the leak and stated that the department is taking measures to ensure the unapproved release of confidential materials does not occur again. The Fire and Police Commission meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, Room 301-B.

created: February 5, 2020

author: Edgar Mendez


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NNS Spotlight: ‘I chose bad first’: How one Milwaukee man learned from a mistake and turned his life around | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 5, 2020
Elijah Tucker-Carter uses his past as motivation to help others in similar situations. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
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.
Elijah Tucker-Carter always wanted to do good.
Growing up, his father was in and out of prison. As a result, his mother was left to raise the kids on her own. Tucker-Carter saw the stress his mother was under and did what he could to help – from walking the family’s two pit bulls after school to changing dirty diapers and making dinner for his younger siblings.
“I took on a lot more roles than I expected as a child,” he said. “It forced me to grow up a lot faster.”
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But things took a turn for the worse when he turned 18.
Tucker-Carter was working for the Milwaukee County Parks system when desperate to get out of a bad situation, he stole some money.
He was arrested and accepted a plea deal.
“Because I came clean about the situation, they gave me three months and two-and-a-half years on probation and extended supervision,” he said.
These days, Tucker-Carter, 24, finds himself in a more positive place. He owns his own barbershop, Crisp EE Cutz, 3271 N. Holton St., and is trying to get his record expunged.
He gives free haircuts at church events and participates in Safe and Sound’s Barbershop Mondays, a program to help groom youth inside and out. He also has plans to attend MATC.
Because of his arrest, Tucker-Carter had to work hard to prove to people that he has learned from his mistakes. He worked for community groups such as the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center and became a mentor for young boys at his church. These days, he said, most people don’t know about his past unless he tells them.
Elijah Tucker-Carter owns and operates his own barbershop, Crisp EE Cutz, 3271 N. Holton St. (Photo provided by Crisp EE Cutz Barbershop)
A strained relationship
Although he had a good relationship with his mother, Erica Tucker, the same could not be said about the one with his father.
In many ways, he resented his father for not being the male presence he needed. Almost everything he’s learned in life, Tucker-Carter said, he’s learned from the women in his life.
Angella Redd, Tucker-Carter’s former teacher at Thurston Woods elementary school, is one of them.
He considers her his godmom and said their bond began when he was in summer school. Redd said she and Tucker-Carter clicked instantly.
“Elijah has a big personality,” she said. “He was just real, and he would say the same about me.”
Redd offered the support he needed in the classroom and beyond to succeed. She never ceased letting him know how proud she was of him.
He recalled in eighth grade bringing home his report card with a 3.9 GPA. Instead of acknowledging his accomplishments, Tucker-Carter’s father said that if he hadn’t brought him a 3.9, he would’ve been beaten.
When getting good grades became more of a threat than an accomplishment, Tucker-Carter stopped caring. By his freshman year, at Rufus King High School, his GPA had plummeted to a 1.6. Eventually he was kicked off the football team.
Georaldo Rivas, Tucker-Carter’s youth pastor, said the young man’s relationship with his father took its toll. There was a lot of internalized resentment, he said.
“I always told him you can control your actions,” Rivas said. “I tried to be a listening ear for him and be a leaning post.”
Tucker-Carter’s father had been in prison since his son’s freshman year of high school. He was released his senior year and on Valentine’s Day 2014, he and his father got into a fist fight. It was the last straw. For three weeks, Tucker-Carter walked around with a black eye, sleeping on his aunt’s couch and wearing the same clothes to school each day.
After high school graduation, Tucker-Carter was determined to get out from under the same roof as his father.
“Ultimately, I was faced with the decision of whether I wanted to do good or bad, and I chose bad first,” Tucker-Carter said.
Tucker said after the incident, she noticed a change in her son. His motivation changed, and he gained a focus he didn’t have before, she said.
“He was totally motivated to do whatever he could to stay on the right path,” she said.
“Elijah is the kid who learns from his mistakes,” Redd added.
As for Tucker-Carter? He says he’s learned his lesson.
“That is the only time I went to jail, and that is going to be the only time I go to jail,” Tucker-Carter said.

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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OPINION: ‘And still my heart is broken’: How a Milwaukee civil rights bus tour made black history come alive for me | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sarah Noble
February 5, 2020
Sarah Noble pauses to reflect outside Alice’s Garden during the Milwaukee Civil Rights Bus Tour she organized in 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.
Sarah Noble, founder and principal partner of BeNoble Group, has been actively working for justice for more than 30 years. In this essay, she reflects on the lessons of a bus tour she organized tracing Milwaukee’s civil rights history in parallel with her personal story.
On May 6, 2019, the BeNoble Group organized a four-stop Milwaukee Civil Rights Bus Tour for progressive white leaders. The tour was designed to highlight the people, places and moments that made Milwaukee, that changed Milwaukee, and in many ways, caused Milwaukee’s current state for better or worse.
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Guided by Milwaukee historian Reggie Jackson, we toured places that are mostly unmarked and too often unmentioned. My personal story lives at each and every stop, which began at America’s Black Holocaust Museum.
We traveled a short 1.4 miles from the museum, arriving at our first stop — the I-43 footbridge, on 7th and Ring Streets. The tour participants exited the bus single file, crossed 7th Street and entered the bridge to hear about the devastating impact of building the North-South Freeway in the 1960s, right through the heart of the black residential district. Over 8,000 homes were torn down to build the freeway.
Standing above the I-43 on the 7th Street footbridge, the tour group listens to historian Reggie Jackson. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Standing on that footbridge was surreal. My family lived one block from the freeway construction, which meant our home was spared. And yet, we didn’t escape its devastation. The homes that were torn down housed families whose lives were connected to ours. After the freeway construction, most of those connections were lost forever.
Our second stop was A.O. Smith, a manufacturing facility that employed about 8,000 people in the 1970s. It was nationally known for manufacturing car frames for big carmakers like Cadillac, Chrysler and Ford. It was also known as a good wage employer who hired black men. The availability of such manufacturing jobs helped to grow Milwaukee’s black population from roughly 8,000 in 1940 to over 105,000 by 1970.
The bus parks across from the former A.O. Smith Research and Development Building. (Photo by Adam Carr)
I can name men who worked those manufacturing jobs — men whose lives intertwined with mine and those closest to me. Each and every one of them counted their job as an immeasurable resource — a lifeline to better for themselves and their families. Their labor afforded them far more than meeting the day-to-day need of putting food on the table or their ability to pay rent. It also afforded them opportunities to invest in businesses, to build assets through homeownership, and with great pride — to send the next generation, and likely the first, to college.
Things began to change in the 1990s. Companies like A.O. Smith went from employing 8,000 in 1970 to a mere 500 by 2004. This caused social and economic changes that we experience and literally see every day in 2020.
Stop three — we stood quietly at the intersection of 17th Street and Fond du Lac Avenue, in a neighborhood described as one of the most distressed communities in Milwaukee. A freeway construction project planned there over 40 years ago resulted in the destruction of 1,600 homes, followed by disinvestment in a neighborhood that already had its share of challenges. It lost a larger percentage of residents than any other neighborhood in the city. Reggie called it the epitome of the destructive forces of public policy.
Sarah Noble speaks to the tour group at Alice’s Garden. (Photo by Adam Carr)
As we returned to the bus, Reggie pointed at the Columbia Savings & Loan building and mentioned its role as a black banking institution, providing mortgage loans to black families who couldn’t get approved at white banks. My family was among those who had housing stability because we had a home mortgage with Columbia Savings & Loan.
Our last stop, before returning to the museum, was the 16th Street Viaduct. In 1962, then Alderwoman Vel Philips introduced a Housing Ordinance Bill that would outlaw housing discrimination. By August of 1967, she supported an Open Housing Campaign led by the NAACP Youth Council and Father James Groppi, a Catholic priest at St. Boniface Church. They protested both forced and mandated housing segregation. The Civic Voice, an opposition group, filed a petition signed by more than 27,000 people that called on the Common Council to adopt a resolution to block open housing laws. Undaunted, campaign leaders pressed on even after being met by violent attacks from white protesters as they crossed the 16th Street Viaduct to the city’s South Side. They marched for 200 straight days!
Reggie Jackson discusses the history of Milwaukee’s Open Housing marches on the 16th Street Viaduct. (Photo by Adam Carr)
As a St. Boniface Church member and student, I was deeply connected to every moment of those 200 days. I was in awe of and admired members of the NAACP Youth Council, the Commandos and every leader who raged against injustice. They were ever present at my school, my church and in my neighborhood. They were my community. One of my most cherished memories of the time is of Father Groppi coming to the school playground, during recess. Though it was never said, I believe that his timing was always intentional; that he wanted to see me and every other child jumping rope, playing tag and hopscotch; that he wanted to be able to recall, at a moment’s notice, my face and the faces of all of my classmates; that he wanted to see us being children, as we had a right to be.
So the moral of my story is this — in spite of everything that has happened, I’ve had a good life, and still my heart is broken, and whiteness is its cause.
Whiteness was and remains at the center of violations against our humanity and our civil rights. It is for that reason, on May 6, 2019, I urged progressive, white leaders to take the Milwaukee Civil Rights Bus Tour, with the hope that they will become ready and willing to lead differently.
To white progressive Milwaukee: Anything less than your readiness and will gets in the way of my liberation and the liberation of my people. It dishonors the lives of those who endured and those who continue to do so. And for every one of us, especially for those not yet born, I remain committed to Black Lives and will continue to demand that you commit to living your lives differently.
In case you missed it: 9 ways to celebrate Black History Month in Milwaukee

author: Sarah Noble


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 24, 2021

created: February 24, 2021


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 6, 2020

created: February 6, 2020


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5 things to do this weekend: Feb. 7 to Feb. 9 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 7, 2020
Milwaukee Recreation is hosting a winter health and wellness fest this weekend. (Photo provided by Milwaukee Recreation)
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. Black stories matter: Friday, Feb. 7
Leaders Igniting Transformation and its partners are hosting a storytelling at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, 839 S. 5th St., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. The stories will be about Black Lives Matter.
2. Heart health and line dancing: Friday, Feb. 7
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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is hosting a line dancing extravaganza to raise awareness about heart health. The event will take place at Longfellow Elementary, 1021 S. 21st St., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. Participants are asked to wear something red. The dance will be facilitated by Nzinga Khalid.
3. Winter and health wellness fair: Saturday, Feb. 8
Milwaukee Recreation is hosting a winter health and wellness fair at Hamilton High School, 6215 W. Warnimont Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 8. There will be free fitness classes, healthy snacks, raffle prizes and more. The event is free and registration for events is first come, first served.
4. “Black women behind the lens”: Saturday, Feb. 8
As part of Black History Month, Black Lens MKE and Milwaukee Film Festival are hosting a series of events centered on black filmmakers. One of the events, “Black women behind the lens,” will take place at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8. The event is free to the public. Local and national black female filmmakers will be in attendance, including Emily Kuester, Princess Garrett, Cai Thomas and Simone Lyles.
5. “Time doesn’t heal all wounds” fundraiser: Sunday, Feb. 9
The Center for Leadership of Afrikan Women’s Wellness is hosting a fundraiser titled, “Time doesn’t heal all wounds.” The event will be hosted at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9. Board members will be in attendance to discuss the organization. There will also be a movie and discussion regarding trauma and how to raise awareness of the effects of trauma. Tickets cost $10 for general admission.

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Post from Community: Black History Quiz Bowl 2020 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Bridget Robinson
February 9, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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 women of the Gamma Pi Sigma Alumnae of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. will host it’s annual Black History Quiz Bowl on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Woodlands School located at 3121 West State Street. The competition starts at 11am and runs through 1pm. This event is FREE and open to the public.
Our theme this year is Young, Gifted & Black and focuses on the many talents and accomplishments of African American men and women in the United States. The Black Quiz Bowl has been traditionally held in an effort to foster a community approach to learning black history – filling the gap of sharing important facts that children can be proud of. The chapter is excited to host 5 teams of young people who are studying black history and will showcase the power of their knowledge in the Jeopardy style contest. The team of students scoring the highest will earn medals of honor to award their achievement. However, the event is focused on celebrating black history, black culture and the importance of academic excellence.
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“We believe that young people are our future and we hope to create opportunities to develop and strengthen their legacy”, says the chapter President – Bridget Robinson.

created: February 9, 2020

author: Bridget Robinson


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BHQB-Flyer-2020-1.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 9, 2020

author: Name *


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Feb. 10 to Feb. 15 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 10, 2020
The annual Daddy Daughter Dance takes place Saturday, Feb. 15. (NNS archive photo)
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. MKE Black app launch party: Monday, Feb. 10
MKE Black is launching its new app, which showcases and promotes black establishments in the city, at the SkyBox Sports Bar, 2213 N. Martin Luther King Drive., from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10. The app contains listings and interactive maps of black businesses, events and other resources. To learn more about the app and its founders, click here.
2. Milwaukee Public Schools community conversation: Wednesday, Feb. 12
Milwaukee Public Schools wants to hear from the community regarding the schools’ discipline policies and practices. The conversation will take place at Marshall High School, 4141 N. 64th St., from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Community members will hear from the Milwaukee Public Schools senior team and board of directors. They will also be asked to address concerns and recommendations. To submit a recommendation, click here and to learn more about the discipline policy, click here.
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3. How black is black enough? Wednesday, Feb. 12
The UWM African Student Association is hosting a conversation centered around the question: “How black is black enough?” The event will be held in the Wisconsin Room Lounge in the student union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Guest speakers include Dr. Troy Washington, Ameena Abubaker Yusuf, Vaun Mayes and Lavelle Young. Anita Mogaka will moderate.
4. Valentine’s Day dinner and dance: Friday, Feb. 14
United Indians of Milwaukee, 3126 W. Kilbourn Ave., is hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner and dance from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. Dinner will begin at 5 p.m. with the dance to follow at 7:30 p.m. Attendees have the option of choosing tickets for a couple, single or dance only. The profits will help programming at the United Indians of Milwaukee.
5. Milwaukee Recreation’s daddy/daughter dance: Saturday, Feb. 15
Milwaukee Recreation is hosting its 17th annual daddy/daughter dance at North Division High School, 1011 W. Center St., on Saturday, Feb. 15. Dinner will be served at 5:15 p.m. with the dance to follow at 6:15 p.m. Fathers and daughters can choose to attend the dinner and the dance or just the dance. For dinner and the dance, tickets cost $30 for fathers and $10 for daughters; for the dance only, tickets cost $20 for fathers and $5 for daughters. To register, click here.
Bonus: Screening of “Love & Basketball” at Oriental: Thursday, Feb. 13
Black Lens MKE is screening “Love & Basketball” as a part of its Black History Month celebration. The film will be shown at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave., from 6:30 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. The movie stars Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as two childhood friends who aspire to be professional basketball players and find love along the way.

created: February 10, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 9, 2020


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12668261484_92125915b9_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 9, 2020


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EXCLUSIVE: Drug overdose deaths in 2019 set record for Milwaukee County | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 11, 2020
The South Side of Milwaukee continues to be the city’s drug overdose hotspot, with 38 deaths occurring in the 53204 ZIP code, and 46 recorded in the adjoining 53215. In this file photo, a discarded needle lies in an alley near West Greenfield Avenue. (File photo by Edgar Mendez)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the number of drug overdose deaths in Milwaukee County for 2019 and to update the number of male victims.
A record high of 404 drug overdose deaths occurred in Milwaukee County last year, surpassing the previous high of 401 in 2017, according to data from the Milwaukee County medical examiner’s office.
The grim tally is sure to go up, as 17 more probable overdose cases are pending further toxicology reports, said Karen Domagalski, operations manager at the office. There were 384 drug overdose deaths in 2018.
“It’s disheartening to know that so many people are losing their lives,” said Ald. Michael Murphy, chairman of the City-County Heroin, Opioid, and Cocaine Task Force. “The goal is obviously to get more and more people into treatment.”
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The increase in deaths surprised and saddened Michelle Jaskulski, senior director of faith and family programs for the Washington, D.C.-based Addiction Policy Forum. Jaskulski, who lives in Cudahy, became involved in the movement after experiencing her two sons struggle with addiction. She said a combination of factors could be contributing to the increase, including easy access to drugs in the area.
“But there’s also a lack of accessible resources, especially detox services for those who are addicted,” she said.
Of the 404 drug overdose deaths that occurred in 2019, the majority (236) involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can kill in trace amounts and is often used as a cutting agent for heroin, cocaine and other drugs. Of the deaths, 128 were heroin related; 174 were caused by cocaine alone or in combination; and 17 involved methamphetamines. The number of heroin-related deaths has decreased for two consecutive years, while cocaine-related deaths increased in each of the past two years.
Murphy said people should pay close attention to the rise in cocaine-related deaths, which could be related to people shying away from heroin.
“I’m hearing anecdotally that people are moving away from heroin to cocaine because of the huge number of deaths, but what they don’t realize is that it’s probably drug dealers that are mixing it with fentanyl,” said Murphy regarding the increase.
Of the overdose victims, 274 were men and 130 were women. The youngest victim was just 15 months old, while the oldest was 88.
The South Side of Milwaukee continues to be the city’s drug overdose hotspot, with 38 deaths occurring in the 53204 ZIP code, and 46 recorded in the adjoining 53215. Other ZIP code areas in Milwaukee that have been hit hard by drug overdose deaths include 53210 (23) and 53208 (21), although a total of 17 ZIP code areas recorded at least 10 overdose deaths.
The medical examiner’s data goes back to 2002, when 109 deaths occurred. Data from the medical examiner’s office suggests that the trend has continued or could even be accelerating into 2020. While only three drug overdose deaths have been confirmed in 2020, another 49 probable overdose cases are pending. If all are confirmed, the total of 52 would surpass the 45 overdose deaths that occurred through Feb. 10, 2019.
Some help to address the epidemic in Milwaukee is on the way. The City of Milwaukee Health Department was recently awarded a $730,000 grant from the National Association of City County Health Officials to expand the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative, a pilot program launched on the South Side. The program, a collaboration between the health department, Milwaukee Fire Department and other community partners, involves having peer counselors ride with paramedics six days a week to talk to people who overdosed, but were resuscitated, Murphy said.
So far, the program has helped more than 20 people enter treatment, he added.
“Those are people that probably wouldn’t be alive today,” he said.
Additional task force activities include the creation of a countywide map of harm reduction and treatment resources and an increase in community engagement, Murphy added.
In addition, Wisconsin will receive more than $17 million from the  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to treatment and collect more data on drug overdoses.
Milwaukee also recently joined a federal lawsuit against pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies, stating that dozens have “engaged in false and misleading practices that have resulted in the extraordinary increase in opioid addiction and overdose deaths in the City of Milwaukee and throughout the country.”
As for Jaskulski’s organization, it is working to address the issue by educating people to help reduce stigma and make it easier for them to reach out for help; conducting Naloxone training; hosting family support groups; and offering a resource website and call/text line for those seeking services. Ultimately, though, said Jaskulski, the best way to help someone with an addiction is to meet them where they’re at.
“When someone is in the midst of detoxing, they aren’t going to want to hear about long-term treatment options, but they might be willing to learn about medications that can help,” she said.
Here is a partial list of drug treatment services in the Milwaukee area:
•Rogers Behavioral Health
•West Milwaukee Comprehensive Treatment Center,
•First Step Community Recovery Center
•Meta House
•God Touch Milwaukee
•United Community Center Substance Use Treatment Program
In case you missed it: ‘Things are getting worse’: Drug overdose deaths continue to menace Milwaukee
In case you missed it: As opioid death toll rises, task force releases plan to combat epidemic

created: February 11, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 10, 2020


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Post from Community: Brew City Match announces second round of competition | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
LISC Milwaukee
February 11, 2020
Alejandra Gonzalez sold 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)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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 Brew City Match collaborative announced today that the program is now accepting applications from small business owners and commercial property owners within targeted Milwaukee commercial corridors. After a successful first round of competition in the Historic King Drive, North Avenue/Fond du Lac, and Cesar Chavez Drive commercial corridors, the program is now expanding to the Near West Side.
“Brew City Match is a great way to encourage the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of small business people in Milwaukee, and redevelop vacant commercial storefronts in our Historic commercial corridors,” Mayor Tom Barrett said. “These businesses add economic activity and jobs in our neighborhoods, and we are optimistic about their future growth.”
On behalf of the collaborative, Wendy Baumann, WWBIC Executive Director commented, “We continue to be encouraged with our Brew City Match collaboration, and are excited to find the next entrepreneurs with great promise to start or expand their businesses with support from our collaborative team. Some businesses really need a plan to start – others need to advance their plan into a fulltime business and many are really in expansion mode – and all in our neighborhood corridors where business enterprises and jobs are needed and wanted”.
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“Opportunity is knocking for Milwaukee’s entrepreneurs and commercial property owners,” said Charlie Corrigan, head of Midwest philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase. “By making this targeted capital available, Brew City Match is making critical, on-the-ground connections, fueling inspired visions, and building momentum toward local development that will have a lasting impact.”
Applications can be found online at www.brewcitymatch.com and are due on March 10, 2020.
A press event will be held on February 13th at 10:30am at Triciclo Peru, located at 3801 W Vliet St. Mayor Barrett will provide remarks. Members of the collaborative and winners from the first round of competition will be available for interviews.
If you would like to schedule an interview with a Brew City Match winner or collaboration partner please contact Beth Haskovec at LISC Milwaukee at (202) 487-9729. For a list of winners from the first round of competition visit https://brewcitymatch.com/winners.

author: LISC Milwaukee


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Don’t throw your money away: Where you can go for free tax assistance, resources | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 12, 2020
Don’t throw your money away this tax season.
Because of misconceptions, for example, some people often pay for a computer program or a company to file their taxes for them. This can be a costly decision for those struggling to make ends meet because they are paying unnecessary fees. Fortunately, organizations throughout Milwaukee such as the Social Development Commission and Journey House are here to help through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, or VITA.
George Hinton, the chief executive officer of the Social Development Commission, said his organization has a free tax program for people who make $58,000 or less a year. Hinton said the program wants to ensure that taxpayers receive every dollar they’re entitled to.
“We don’t think it’s necessary” for people to pay fees, he said.
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Low-income residents can receive help with their tax returns at places such as the Social Development Commission. (Archive photo provided by Social Development Commission)
How the program works
Kathi Rodgers, a site coordinator at the Social Development Commission, helps people file their taxes. When people arrive for their appointments, they need three things: a valid ID, the Social Security cards for everyone in the household and the proper tax forms such as a W2 for all the income they want to claim.
Some individuals may be able to itemize certain purchases. For example, students can bring book receipts; educators could bring receipts for supplies purchased for the classroom; and homeowners can itemize things such as medical bills and home repairs.
“If you think you can get a refund for it, just bring it,” Rodgers said.
On a good day, a typical appointment at the Social Development Commission should take from 45 minutes to an hour. While each appointment is slotted for 30 minutes, people are asked to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out the correct forms and go through the checklist with an intake specialist.
From there, they meet with a site coordinator who helps file their taxes. If eligible for a refund, people can set up a bank account to receive a direct deposit. Otherwise, site coordinators work with individuals to set up a payment plan.
“Sometimes refunds make the difference between a meal and homelessness,” Rodgers said.
The best time to schedule an appointment is mid-February to mid-March. That’s the ideal slow time, because starting around April 1, the commission has to start cramming appointments in.
Ricardo Galaviz, the VITA site coordinator for Journey House, said the organization has been offering free tax assistance for over 10 years. Since taking over as site coordinator, Galaviz has made a point to hire bilingual volunteers.
“I try to cater to the population we’re trying to serve here at Journey House,” he said.
Galaviz explained that the volunteers are certified and trained in tax law. If it’s a simple return, the appointment should take ideally a half hour, he said.
He recommends making the appointment online. People will be able to control their appointments online if they need to reschedule or cancel, he said.
Here are several programs that offer tax assistance.
Resources
Social Development Commission (SDC)
The Social Development Commission, in partnership with United Way, offers free tax preparation and filing to individuals and families living in Milwaukee County. To be eligible individuals must make $58,000 or less. To schedule an appointment, call 414-206-2262 or click here. The sites are open from now until Wednesday, April 15.
Locations:
North Avenue: 1730 W. North Ave.
Teutonia: 6848 N. Teutonia Ave.
Chase: 2968 S. Chase Ave.
Hours:
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday
Journey House
Journey House, 2110 W. Scott St., offers free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program from now until Saturday, April 4. Individuals or families must make $54,000 or less to be eligible. Its website lists what to bring to the appointment. To schedule an appointment, click here.
Location:
2110 W. Scott St.
Hours:
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday
Milwaukee Public Library
The Milwaukee Public Library offers resources to help during tax season, but it does not offer a tax program. Tax forms from 2019 will be available at local library branches throughout Milwaukee. The library will help individuals view forms online and print them for 15 cents a page.
Milwaukee Area Technical College
The Milwaukee Area Technical College is offering free assistance on tax returns. Taxpayers with a family income of $54,000 or less are eligible for the service.
Locations:
Downton Campus (S Building): 700 W. State St.
Oak Creek Campus (Main Building): 6665 W. Howell St.
Hours:
5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Downtown Campus now through Thursday, April 2.
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays at the Oak Creek Campus, Room A120 now through Saturday, March, 28
Did we miss a location that offers free tax assistance? Post it in the comments below or send us an email at infor@milwaukeenns.org.

created: February 12, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 11, 2020


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Minding your business: From boys to businessmen: 4 Messmer grads open clothing line, shop | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Claudia Delgadillo
February 12, 2020
JaVaughn Porter (from left), Jamaal Hayes, Carlton LeRoy and Javonte Davis pose with friend Tai Words in their new store. The four men became friends while attending Messmer High School. (Photo provided by Gifted Clothing)
Editor’s note: “Minding your business” is a new feature that shines a spotlight on businesses and entrepreneurs in our neighborhoods. To nominate a business or a person, please comment below or send an email with the subject line “Minding your business” to info@milwaukeenns.org
Javonte Davis, Carlton LeRoy, Jamaal Hayes and JaVaughn Porter knew from the first day they met at Messmer High School that they would be friends.
And they also know they didn’t want to work traditional jobs after college.
After getting experience in their own fields, the friends decided to team up and start a business of their own.
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“We don’t want to work for somebody else. We want freedom of expression. We want to be able to do what we like to do,” Davis said. “We all like clothes, I like to draw, we can put those two together and make a real business and a clothing line.”
In March 2017, the four friends launched their brand, Gifted Clothing. They recently opened their first store at 2714 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
Davis, 25, started creating designs while studying at the University of Dubuque, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.
LeRoy, 26, enlisted in the military after graduating from Messmer but then returned to finish his education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. He will graduate this semester with an MBA from UWM.
Hayes, 26, he earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and minored in business and communication at Holy Family College.
Porter, 25, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance and received a certificate in entrepreneurship from UWM.
After graduating from Messmer, the four went their separate ways. But LeRoy made sure they all stay connected.
“LeRoy was the main one who kept in contact with everybody because he was in the military,” Davis recalled. “He made sure and would merge the calls. We would meet up at his house when he came back.”
The founders of Gifted Clothing celebrate at the recent opening of their store. (Photo provided by Gifted Clothing)
Working as a team
Porter uses his knowledge in finance; Hayes contributes his communication skills and outreach to the community; LeRoy handles business logistics and management; and Davis serves as the artist and creates the designs.
Gifted Clothing has merchandise for women and men, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps and beanies. There are various designs like the bear logo, the fake love logo and the bear reflection logo.
“The bear logo symbolizes courage,” Davis explained. “Our motto is everyone has a God-given talent. Some people don’t have the courage or even the resources to help them express that talent.”
The road to becoming entrepreneurs has been challenging, but the four have found that working together offers its own special reward.
“To have something to still be part of my degree and I’m still working towards, it speaks volumes for me,” Porter said. “Doing this right here makes me very happy and to do it with people I grew up with and I call family makes me even more. It’s like a flower blossom or a dream coming true.”
Gifted Clothing is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
In case you missed it: Minding your business: Four neighborhood coffee shops to know

author: Claudia Delgadillo


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Post from Community: Compost pilot to end — Milwaukee steps back five years on organics | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mary Lou Lamonda
February 12, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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 want MKE to end a composting system that other cities embrace successfully?
With no warning to its customers, the City of Milwaukee will be quietly ending its successful four-year Pilot Organics Collection Program, which has included all food and compostable food containers. On Jan 30th potential waste haulers received a Request For Proposal (RFP) from the MKE Department of Public Works (DPW). The new RFP is for a minimum of five years and does NOT mandate food waste to be picked up by the hauler. It is now only an option.
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Where is the political will or farsighted leadership concerning Organics Diversion in MKE? Based on this RFP, the city is seeking a quick solution to end the compost pilot program. The longer term vision of a triple-bottom line of
Landfill diversion goals, building healthy soils with nutrient-rich compost or supporting small businesses and local jobs are not reflected in any aspect of this RFP.
READ FULL ARTICLE

author: Mary Lou Lamonda


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compost-project.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 12, 2020


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Post from Community: Spectrum announces $25,000 Spectrum Digital eduction grant for Digital Bridge of Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Charter Communications
February 12, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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.
Spectrum today announced that Milwaukee nonprofit Digital Bridge has been awarded a $25,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant to continue its “Bridge Milwaukee” digital literacy program, as part of a $5 million national commitment to digital education in Spectrum communities across the country.
Spectrum’s newest $25,000 grant will allow Digital Bridge to expand the digital literacy program it helped launch in 2019 through an initial $32,500 Spectrum Digital Education Grant.
“We are proud to once again support Digital Bridge, whose digital literacy program and commitment to provide access to technology helps further our mission to provide families and seniors in the Milwaukee area with the necessary tools to grow and prosper in the digital age,” said Rahman Khan, Vice President of Community Impact for Charter Communications, Inc.
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Spectrum’s Digital Education Grant will enable Digital Bridge to launch new and strengthen existing partnerships with area nonprofits and community organizations, to host digital workshops at their facilities and provide distribution of electronic resources to participants. Bridge Milwaukee removes barriers by bringing the technology and related training directly to individuals at the community-based organizations with which they are already comfortably engaged.
First-year results from the Bridge Milwaukee Program are promising. In less than a year, more than 170 individuals have obtained training and access to a device working through a variety of Milwaukee-based community organizations.
“Digital Bridge’s focus has been taking technological resources donated by companies and refurbishing this equipment to get it into the hands of those who would otherwise lack access,” says Jeff Hanson, Executive Director for Digital Bridge. “With Spectrum’s partnership and grant funding, we’ve added a layer of education and access training to help individuals confidently take the equipment and utilize it to improve their lives.”
“It’s all about removing the barriers. Sometimes barriers are access, so we’re bringing the program and more devices to different locations. Sometimes barriers are knowledge-based, so we’re providing some digital literacy training along with information on how to obtain low-cost internet service.”
YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin is one of the initial partners to incorporate the Bridge Milwaukee curriculum into their programs. They’ve collaborated with Digital Bridge to conduct various workshops and distribute equipment to those in need, and continue to identify further ways to expand the program’s reach and influence. For example, students enrolled in their High School Equivalency Diploma program participate in a Bridge Milwaukee workshop to receive training, information on broadband access and a working device.
“Our partnership with Digital Bridge has been extremely valuable and the feedback we’re receiving from program participants tells a story of impact,” says Jennifer de Montmollin, YWCA SEW Chief Program Officer. “Over the past six months, our partnership has helped 104 under-resourced people create personal digital access. Through one-to-one and group technical education sessions, combined with low-cost, high-quality computers, we’re creating improved access for work and educational opportunities for those we serve. By bringing the knowledge and resources into homes, we’re supporting improved educational options for the many adults we serve and their children.”
Spectrum Digital Education Grants is Charter’s philanthropic initiative supporting nonprofit organizations that help local community members improve their lives through digital education. This support includes financial and technology grants, PSAs and technical assistance for local nonprofit organizations. In 2019, the company received more than 200 eligible applications and awarded grants to 31 organizations across 13 states. Since the inception of Spectrum Digital Education in 2017, the company has awarded 71 financial and technology grants to local nonprofits in 41 communities.
Charter Communications, through its Spectrum brand, is committed to improving communities and impacting lives where our customers and employees live and work. More information on Spectrum Digital Education and Charter’s other signature program, Spectrum Housing Assist — a commitment to engage employees and community volunteers to improve 50,000 homes by 2020 — is available at communityimpact.spectrum.com.

author: Charter Communications


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 12, 2020


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Alverno Community Conference will explore women’s empowerment from suffrage to #MeToo movement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Kelly Cole
February 13, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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 will host its annual Community Conference on Friday, February 28, which will focus on exploring women’s empowerment from the suffrage era to today’s #MeToo movement. Tiffany Henry, president of the Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals and Milwaukee Office Director for U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event, which is open to the public.
The annual day of learning, which provides an opportunity for the extended Alverno community to share research, new initiatives and best practices, includes workshops, discussions and creative activities. More than a dozen breakout sessions will be offered on a variety of topics, including self-care, using language to find empowerment, self-advocacy, how to shed disempowering beliefs, and more. The event will begin with Henry’s keynote address.
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For more information about the 2020 Alverno Community Conference or to register, visit alverno.edu/communityconference. Additional questions can be directed to the Assessment and Outreach Center at 414-382-6020 or alverno.outreach@alverno.edu.
The event is sponsored by the Johnson Financial Group.

created: February 13, 2020

author: Kelly Cole


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Alv_Com_Conf_Logo_2020-Full.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 13, 2020


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OPINION: How serving as a Boy Scout made me the man I am today | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Charles Robinson Sr
February 13, 2020
Charles Robinson Sr. participating in Wood Badge Patrol in 1984, which included two weeks in the wilderness with few provisions. According to him, this was “the best training I’ve had in life.” (Photo provided by Charles Robinson Sr.)
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.
Charles Robinson Sr. is a lawyer, mediator and resident of the Borchert Field neighborhood. For Black History Month, he recalls the profound impact the Boy Scouts have had on his life, as a child growing up in Milwaukee and as an adult seeking to uplift his community.
The Boy Scouts of America gave me some of the best training I’ve had in life, as a boy and as an adult volunteer. However, if you were to picture the stereotype of “Boy Scout” — especially in Southeastern Wisconsin — I might not be the person who comes to mind.
Black boys and men in Milwaukee have a long, proud tradition with Boy Scouts, and I am honored to be part of that history.
As a child growing up during the ‘60s in Milwaukee, at the age of 8, I was running with a teenage gang. The leader lived in the downstairs apartment with his family. He and his brothers treated me like a little brother. We had a clubhouse in the attic where we played checkers, card games, and even had an electric train set. There were tests and rituals I had to pass that were designed to make me tough. I endured those challenges and rituals because I wanted to belong.
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Eventually, I was “scared straight” and my family moved. Fortunately, I discovered another gang — Troop 75.
My church had no scouting program, so I joined the Boy Scout program at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, which was located on 9th and Brown Streets at the time. I had to walk a few miles for the weekly meetings. I passed my Tenderfoot merit badge requirements during my first night with Troop 75, but I wasn’t old enough to join just yet — I had to wait two weeks to meet the age requirement.
I’m so glad I went back to officially become a Boy Scout. My life was transformed.
Scoutmaster Lawrence Taylor was our legendary leader and he inspired me. Living around the corner, he shared his life and family time with us. He coached many boys in pursuit of the Eagle Award, the highest rank in scouting.
Although I grew up in a very tough area of town, I was inside the wonderful world of scouting. My grades changed from C’s to A’s and I was appointed captain of the crossing guard cadets at school.
The scouting experience helped to shape my character and it kept me out of trouble. I recall my first hiking trip. I was up before dawn and wide awake. My grandmother, Ethel, seemed just as excited as I was. Already waiting in the living room, she helped me pack my gear for the 25-mile hike to achieve the hiking merit badge. Arriving at our destination that evening, we had “Rock Soup” made from scratch. We put everything we packed to eat into the mix, including a rock for the brand name. That 25-mile hike, at age 12, was challenging, high adventure and ritualistic.
The following year, during winter camp, Silver Lake was frozen and we walked across for a shortcut back to camp. Suddenly, the ice began to crack and we ran for our lives. We made it across safely, including Theophilus, who was a huge, heavy kid. We blamed him for cracking the ice. We still laugh about that experience today. There are so many stories.
Approximately 30 years later, I was determined to have a Boy Scout program at my church. A recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, I wanted to give back to my community, which was the source of my success. So I became the Scoutmaster, as well as district commissioner. It was at that same campsite near Silver Lake that my relationship with my stepson had a breakthrough.
My first milestone was finding and training 16 commissioners to serve 102 scout programs in the inner city during the early 80s. These commissioners were extraordinary. The scouting partners in schools, churches and community-based organizations were able to get the training and other resources they needed to deliver a quality program.
My next milestone was reactivating Troop 445 at St. Mark’s A.M.E., a renowned black church. The troop is one of the oldest scouting programs in the state of Wisconsin, but was inactive. I found several adult Eagle Scouts in the church and recruited them to become commissioners and scout leaders.
St. Mark’s was filled with talented people who never declined my requests to support scouting. Led by Pastor Lovell Johnson, there were many middle class families and professional people who wanted their church to be viable in their community. It was a thrill to come before the congregation during a service when it was time for a charter presentation ceremony. Troop 445 went from inactive to one of the best programs right away. Napoleon White, who recently passed, was a legendary Scoutmaster there for approximately 30 years.
Today, I’m very proud that the legacy continues with my grandson, who is about to become an Eagle Scout in Minnesota.
Since my days involved in scouting, participation has drastically decreased in the inner city. Some of the reasons commonly offered for this are a breakdown in traditional family structure, scandals, gender discrimination allegations and socioeconomic conditions. Additionally, school desegregation via busing interrupted many school-based programs.
Currently, there is a need in Milwaukee to restore a sense of community. About 60 years ago, we learned about community as we studied for our Citizenship merit badges, which included “citizenship in the home,” “citizenship in the nation” and “citizenship in the world.”
If it takes a village to raise a child, then, scouting was a part of that village for us.

author: Charles Robinson Sr


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Post from Community: New non-profit organization promotes jazz education and performance in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Jazz Institute
February 13, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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 newly formed Milwaukee Jazz Institute (MJI) is dedicated to promoting jazz education, performance, and appreciation in the Milwaukee area. MJI offers jazz ensemble classes for youth and adults at the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts (926 E Center St) and music workshops at the Jazz Estate (2423 N Murray Ave). Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel (139 E Kilbourn Ave) will be the site for the MJI educational jazz festival this spring and a concert series by the MJI resident ensemble, We Six. Details on all activities can be found at www.milwaukeejazzinstitute.org.
Pianist and educator Mark Davis is the founder and artistic director of the Milwaukee Jazz Institute. A lifelong practitioner and teacher of jazz, Davis maintains a love, respect, and enthusiasm for the art form that he is eager to share. “I’ve seen what a positive, transformative impact this music can have on both individuals and communities. I’m excited about the ways in which our events and activities will bring people together and bolster our vibrant music scene,” said Davis.
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Davis formed the Milwaukee Jazz Institute with like-minded people. Among them are business executives and owners, community leaders, jazz musicians, educators, and enthusiasts. In conjunction with their education and performance initiatives, they want to expand and diversify the local audience for jazz and create opportunities for professional and aspiring musicians.
The Milwaukee Jazz Institute 2020 Jazz Festival, will be held March 19 & 20, 2020 at Saint Kate -The Arts Hotel. Any member of the public who would like to participate in the workshops or enjoy the performances can purchase a day-pass for $25.
The festival will feature performances and workshops by members of We Six (David Bayles, Scott Burns, Mark Davis, Jeff Hamann, Eric Jacobson, Paul Silbergleit) along with other top jazz musicians and educators including Chris Crain, Manty Ellis, Kevin Hayden, Alan Harris, Curt Hanrahan, Bony Plog-Benavides, Darren Sterud, and Donna Woodall.
The focus of the festival is on jazz education. 15 school ensembles are already registered to attend. High school and middle school jazz ensembles will have the opportunity to perform, receive feedback, and compete for awards. Schools, students, and community members interested in attending should contact the Milwaukee Jazz Institute at 414-234-5565 to learn how to register.
Milwaukee Jazz Institute Faculty and Staff
Mark Davis (piano), Founder and Artistic Director; Eric Jacobson (trumpet), Education Director; Dave Bayles (drums); Chris Crain (piano); Jeff Hamann (bass); Paul Silbergleit (guitar); Erin Richardson, Office Director.
Milwaukee Jazz Institute Board of Directors
Greg Marcus (CEO, Marcus Corporation), Board President; Bill Bonifas (Executive VP, CBRE), Board Treasurer; Erin Richardson (Owner, In Its Place, LLC), Board Secretary and MJI Office Director; Board Members: Carl Brown (CEO, Fresh Coast Jazz), Chris Crain (CEO, Better Project Awareness Foundation), Manty Ellis (Legendary Jazz Guitarist), Brian Lynch (Professor, Frost School of Music), Lynn Lucius (Owner, Lynn Lucius Consulting), and Steve Tilton (Attorney, Tilton & Tilton).

author: Milwaukee Jazz Institute


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MJI-Youth-Ensemble-with-Eric-Jacobson-and-Wynton-Marsalis_cropped_press-size_1400-x-pixel.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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February 12, 2020


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Post from Community: Nominees sought for Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Jewish Community Relations Council
February 13, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from 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 Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation is seeking nominees for its sixth annual Robert H. Friebert Social Justice Award. The award will be given to an individual who has demonstrated leadership, courage and compassion as a social justice advocate, while working to eliminate discrimination and injustice in the greater Milwaukee area. Nominees’ professional and personal contributions to social justice will be considered. Previous honorees are James H. Hall, Danae Davis, José A. Olivieri, Reggie Jackson, Fran Kaplan, Pardeep Singh Kaleka, and Arno Michaelis.
The honoree will be recognized at the JCRC’s Annual Meeting on June 18, 2020. Nomination forms can be found online at MilwaukeeJewish.org/Friebert. The deadline for submission is March 12, 2020.
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This award was created in memory of prominent Milwaukee attorney and activist, Robert H. Friebert. He was driven to pursue social justice through the law and public service, and he believed deeply that everyone deserves equal social, economic and political rights.
Bob Friebert (1938-2013) dedicated himself to the pursuit of social justice and the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing the world). A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Friebert was a founding partner of the law firm Friebert, Finerty and St. John S.C. He argued four cases in the United States Supreme Court, addressing the rights of teachers to organize, due process for federal youthful offenders, reproductive rights of women and the rights of people to vote in primary elections. He served as the first public defender for the State of Wisconsin from 1966-1968.
Friebert became active in local, state and national Democratic politics in his pursuit of social justice. He served several terms on the Democratic National Committee and as an advisor and consultant to numerous Democratic presidential. Friebert enjoyed political debate and was respected for his strongly held views by Republicans and Democrats alike. Friebert was president of the JCRC, formerly the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations.

author: Jewish Community Relations Council


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5 things to do this weekend: Feb. 14 to Feb. 16 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 14, 2020
Intersectionality Among Men is bringing back its monthly conversation: The Get Down. (Photo provided by Intersectionality Among Men)
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. Paint and sip: For the love of black culture: Friday, Feb. 14
Imagine MKE, Ellastic Designs and the Wisconsin Black Historical Society are hosting a “paint and sip” event, and the theme is “For the love of black culture.” The event will be held at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. To reserve your spot, click here. Any cash donations will go toward court renovation at Moody Park in honor of Tay Jackson.
2. Black out at Sherman Phoenix: Saturday, Feb. 15
The Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., is hosting a Black Out vendor market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15. Sherman Phoenix businesses will be open for business but there will also be local vendors. This is an opportunity to support business owners of color.
3. The Get Down monthly conversation: Saturday, Feb. 15
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Intersectionality Among Men, 2439 N. Holton St., is bringing back its monthly conversations: The Get Down. The discussion will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Get Down offers a safe space for gay, bisexual, queer or same-gender loving black men from the ages of 18 to 29.
4. Self-care workshop for girls: Sunday, Feb. 16
Under My Wing, a mentoring organization, is offering a safe and creative space for girls during a self-care workshop. The workshop is an opportunity for young girls to cultivate their character and embrace their confidence. It will take place at the Alpha Personal Care Agency, 9203 W. Bluemound Rd., from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16. The event is also sponsored by Agape Yoga, ImpactHer, Pretty, Plus-Size & Powerful and Sensational Flames.
5. Sing along with the Thunderhawk Tribe: Sunday, Feb. 16
Botanica Galactica, 719 S. 5th St., is hosting a kirtan, an ancient practice in which the community gathers together to sing. The kirtan will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16. The Thunderhawk Tribe, which is a group of musicians, will be leading the kirtan. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $15-$20 and can be found here.

created: February 14, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 13, 2020

author: Adam Carr


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An NNS Valentine’s Day: ‘There are no separate lives for us’: Love and service go together for North Side couple | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Doremus
February 14, 2020
Venice Williams came to Milwaukee 30 years ago to serve as a youth minister for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She met Demetrius Brown in church. Eventually, they became a couple.
Throughout their time together, Venice and Demetrius have devoted themselves to their community. One centerpiece of their efforts is Alice’s Garden, an urban farm just off West Fond du Lac Avenue at the corner of North 20th Street and West Garfield Avenue.
Alice’s Garden, lower left, from the air. (Photo by Wes Tank)
The garden is on a lot that was cleared for the Park West Freeway, which was never built. Now, the empty ground has been reborn as a place for growing food, and growing community. Along with rental plots for gardening, the site hosts an endless variety of activities, including community healing circles, yoga classes, labyrinth walks, dance sessions, cookouts and open-air workshops.
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“Gardening is the carrot to get people to come through the gate to impact their entire quality of life,” Venice said.
The garden also is a place for Venice’s formal ministry. She hosts a worship there on Wednesday evenings when the weather allows it.
“As a minister, I’m quite out of the box,” she said, “and fortunately part of a national church that wants to birth new things.”
Uniting Garden Homes is Demetrius’ pet project. It focuses on workforce development, housing, health and wellness, education, recreation and more.
“We’re now working in gardening,” he said, “creating urban gardeners in other neighborhoods.”
With all that going on, the couple spends a lot of time comparing notes, and making plans, to keep their initiatives on track.
“There are no separate lives for us,” Venice said. “Because of how much we love each other and love community, it’s just all interwoven. And love of children, love of young people. We have that time for ourselves, but this is who we are. We’re serving. And hopefully we’re serving one another’s needs as we’re serving the community’s needs.”
On top of all their other duties, Venice and Demetrius are a role model, to some, of a successful and enduring black couple. Folks come up to them sometimes and gush, “We’re just so glad you’re still together! It’s wonderful to see two people who serve the community and love one another. Man, this gives me hope.”
“It’s a blessed burden,” Venice said.
Venice and Demetrius grow and market a wide variety of herbal products under the “Alice’s Garden” brand – teas, bath salts, body creams, hair spritzers, seasoning salts – all grown in what they call the “production garden” with the help of paid apprentices and packaged at their kitchen table.
But with all that going on, Demetrius still rents his own, personal garden plot. And that’s where Venice likes to see him most of all.
Venice Williams won the MANDI Navigator award in 2015 for her work in the community. Demetrius Brown was right beside her on the stage when she accepted the honor.
“I made sure that everyone in that room understood that we’re a team,” Venice said.

author: Mark Doremus


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49526996477_c9964b7e6b_o | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 13, 2020


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An NNS Valentine’s Day: ‘We never would have met each other if we weren’t in these organizations’: Activism is a common thread for South Side couple | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Mark Doremus
February 14, 2020
Eric and Kika with teachers at a march in 2019. (Photo provided by Kika Meraz and Eric Kleppe-Montenegro)
True love can flourish in many different ways. A shared passion for social justice, though perhaps not obviously romantic, is one of them.
South siders Kika Meraz and her fiancé, Eric Kleppe-Montenegro, are a case in point.
Kika teaches English as a second language at South Division High School. Eric is a photographer, DJ and filmmaker. They met at an immigrant rights gathering in 2012 and got engaged last year.
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Kika’s activism has deep roots. Her father came to the U.S. undocumented at age 16. Hard factory work and the injuries that came with it led him to union organizing. She watched and learned from his example.
“My dad was always super-involved in his union after he became a citizen,” she said. “After suffering abuses in the workplace as an undocumented worker, finding that there is an avenue for labor protections and teaching me that became really important (for him), and then it really became important for me.”
Her father’s example continues to influence her work and her worldview.
“As an ESL teacher, at the heart of our job is advocacy. We have 26 different languages in our school. I have students who came from everywhere and have all different experiences. The community is not built for them; the world is not set up to understand them. If we can … help the rest of the world understand what is going on, and then help influence policy that is more welcoming to immigrants and refugees, that’s an essential part of my job beyond the lesson planning and the delivery of lessons.”
Kika and Eric at the ranch where her father grew up in the Mexican state of Durango. Photo courtesy Kika Meraz and Eric Kleppe-Montenegro)
Eric was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His dad is from Texas and his mother is from Colombia.
“So on my mother’s side, I’m the son of an immigrant,” he said. “That’s always been a huge part of what motivates me, to uplift immigrant voices and immigrant stories.”
Eric serves the community by making visual art and teaching those skills to others.
“I like to create nonfiction media which elevates and amplifies the voices of community change makers,” he said. “And I take the knowledge and experiences I’ve acquired, and I like to pass that on to anyone who’s interested in learning how to use art as a hammer instead of just a mirror.”
Eric’s worked with the Coalition for Justice, which grew out of the 2014 police killing of Dontre Hamilton, Youth Empowered in the Struggle, an arm of Voces de la Frontera, and the Young People’s Resistance Committee, a multinational organization that campaigns for the rights of immigrants, students and workers.
“I try to figure out how can we communicate the messages that these organizations are putting on the street, and put that message in someone’s hand or on their screen at home as a way of helping them accomplish those goals that they’ve set out to do,” Eric said.
Their work, done together or separately, was a cornerstone of their relationship from the start.
Eric’s short documentary film, “Somos Millones” (We are Millions) is one example of how the couple’s partnership bears fruit. It follows Kika and her students on a field trip to Madison for International Workers’ Day.
“Kika always has helped serve as a compass for keeping my artistic practice centered around the community, Eric said. “Through her work, I see so many small but important direct things that need to … be promoted and elevated. And it makes me want to make sure that those young folks, and people in the neighborhood, are being treated with as much respect as the voices of those in power.”


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Feb. 17 to Feb. 22 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 17, 2020
Buy Black Business bingo cards are back. To pick yours up, stop by The Bronzeville Collective, 339 W. North Ave. (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. “Black Business Card Bingo”: Monday, Feb. 17 to Sunday, Feb. 22
“Black Business Card Bingo” is back for another year. Bingo cards can be picked up at The Bronzeville Collective, 339 W. North Ave. The store hours are 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The card offers discounts at locally owned black-owned business. The three participating locations are Bronzeville Collective, the Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., and businesses on Martin Luther King Drive.
2. Honoring African American environmental pioneers: Monday, Feb. 17
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Several environmental groups in Milwaukee are honoring African American environmental pioneers as a part of Black History Month. The celebration will take place at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St., starting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17. Drummers from the Ko-Thi African Dance Company will perform followed by the featured speaker and the award presentation. Ten awards will be presented to African American environmentalists based in Milwaukee.
3. Spring primary elections: Tuesday, Feb. 18
Election Day takes place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Several important races are on the ballot, including ones for the mayor, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice and Milwaukee County executive. To learn more about what you need to know, click here.
4. Family, faith and justice creativity night: Wednesday, Feb. 19
Race and Faith is hosting a family, faith and justice creativity night at Tricklebee Cafe, 4424 W. North Ave., from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Rhonda Hill will lead participants through two activities. There will also be a conversation about discrimination, race relations in the city and racial justice.
5. Update on North Area Comprehensive Plan: Wednesday, Feb. 19
Back in August, the City of Milwaukee and its partners, the Dominican Center, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges and Walnut Way announced their plan to update Fond du Lac and North Area with a comprehensive plan. The group is hosting an update meeting regarding housing, commercial corridors, parks and transportation. Two meetings will take place at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St. The first will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19 and later that same day the second will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A third meeting will take place at the St. Ann Center, 2450 W. North Ave., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27.

created: February 17, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 16, 2020

created: February 16, 2020


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NNS on WGLB radio: Reporter Ana Martinez-Ortiz discusses how to get free tax assistance, minority-owned coffee shops and a community member you should know | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
February 17, 2020
(Photo by Adam Carr)
NNS Community Engagement Reporter Ana Martinez-Ortiz sat down with Saryea Murchison and Dennis Walton from WGLB to discuss several of her recent stories.
The trio looked at the spotlight on Elijah Tucker-Carter, Minding Your Business: Four coffee shops to know and how to get free tax assistance.

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 17, 2020
“Track 1” from Untitled – 02-17-20. Track 1.