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Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet Ana Martinez-Ortiz, community engagement reporter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 7, 2020
Ana Martinez-Ortiz keeps you informed on events happening in the community through the popular “5 things to do and know” columns. (Photo provided by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Name: Ana Martinez-Ortiz
What I do at NNS: I am the community engagement reporter. In short, my job entails engaging the community. This means physically being in the community (see our family room couch project) and it means building a relationship with community leaders and members through outreach, social media and more. My responsibilities include resource lists, how to articles, “5 things to do and know for the week” and “5 things to do and know for the weekend.”
How long I’ve worked here: I started in August 2018.
Why I love NNS: So often people have an idea of what Milwaukee is and at NNS, we show that Milwaukee and its residents are more than a single generalization. We strive to cover 13 neighborhoods in the City of Milwaukee, and in doing so, we’ve become a part of the community. Our stories aren’t limited to a single lens, rather we strive to celebrate, illuminate and educate. In other words, we don’t just focus on the lows or the highs, we go beyond that to show the people and organizations who make up the rich and diverse fabric of Milwaukee.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? I am most proud of how NNS has become a trusted voice in the community. We’ve worked really hard to build relationships with community leaders and members and it shows in the work we do.
Following the death of George Floyd in May, many protesters took to the streets, chanting “defund the police.” I spoke with Liberate MKE, a coalition under the African American Roundtable. Since 2019, the organization has been working to educate community members on the police budget and what it means to “defund the police.”
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 6, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: December 6, 2020

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

author: Adam Carr


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Post from Community: BBB Scam Alert: Watch out for COVID-19 vaccine scams | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
December 7, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
With the United States and Canada close to approving a COVID-19 vaccine, government officials expect scams to emerge as distribution begins. Watch out for everything from phony treatments to phishing messages.
What to Expect from Scammers:
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Government officials have already been cracking down on phony COVID testing kits and treatments. Now, they are ramping up efforts to prevent the sale of fake vaccines.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is working with the drug companies developing the vaccines to stop the sale and distribution of phony versions. Also, the Federal Trade Commission issued warning letters to several companies claiming they had a product to cure or prevent the virus.
Selling fake vaccines and other treatments is likely only one of many ways scammers will try to cash in on the vaccine release. Watch out for phishing messages attempting to trick you into sharing your passwords and personal information. Con artists have already impersonated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in phishing emails that claim to have news about the disease. BBB has also seen an increase in scams using robocalls to impersonate government officials.
How to Spot a Coronavirus Vaccine Con:
•Research carefully: Scammers are very creative, so be skeptical of anything that seems too good – or crazy – to be true. Double check any information about the vaccine with official news sources. And be aware that none of the vaccines can be currently purchased online or in stores.
•Check with your doctor:  If you want a vaccine early, reach out to your healthcare provider about your options. If you don’t have a primary care physician, check out the official website of your local health department for more information
•Ignore calls for immediate action. While you may want to be first in line for the vaccine, don’t let that sense of urgency cloud your judgment. Scammers try to get you to act before you think. Don’t fall for it.
•Think the link may be real? Double check the URL. Scammers often buy official-looking URLs to use in their cons. Be careful that the link is really what it pretends to be. If the message alleges to come from the local government, make sure the URL ends in .gov (for the United States) or .ca (for Canada). When in doubt, perform a separate internet search for the website.
For More Information
Read more about coronavirus scams on the Federal Trade Commission’s website. Learn more about the disease at the CDC’s FAQ page. Also, the FDA is updating this page about its progress in developing a treatment for coronavirus.
BBB has identified many ways in which scammers are cashing in the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about clinical trial scams, contract tracing cons, counterfeit face masks, and government agency imposters.
If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams. Sign up for BBB Scam Alerts to receive weekly notices of emerging scams to avoid.
For further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2019, people turned to BBB more than 183 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.8 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.

created: December 7, 2020

author: Wisconsin Better Business Bureau


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The NNS coronavirus update for week of Dec. 7: Plans underway to distribute vaccine, a call for blood donations and more. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
December 7, 2020
The state is expecting a shipment of nearly 50,000 vaccines the week of Dec. 14. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
Vaccine distribution plans take shape
Vaccine distribution could begin as early as the week of Dec. 14, said Elizabeth Goodsitt, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Goodsitt said that the state will receive weekly shipments of vaccines after the first batch. Mayor Tom Barrett said the state is expecting just under 50,000 vaccines in the first week.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Pfizer and Moderna, the manufacturers leading developments of the vaccine, have both applied for emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin distribution. Barrett said the expectation is that both of those applications will be reviewed by the end of the week, on Dec. 10 or Dec. 11.
Barrett said that frontline healthcare workers would be prioritized in initial distribution, followed by people in nursing homes and other care facilities with high concentrations of the elderly.
A full list of COVID-19 critical populations can be found in the Department of Health Services distribution plan.
And read our Instagram story about the vaccine.
Health Department modifies public health order
The Milwaukee Health Department is revising its previous public health order in response to COVID-19 trends.
Bars and restaurants with approved safety plans cannot have more than 50% of their capacity, an increase from the previous order that only allowed 25% capacity. Bars and restaurants without approved safety plans remain at 25%.
For team sports, requirements have gotten more stringent. School and club team sports will not be allowed to practice without an approved COVID-19 safety plan that includes regular testing. This includes intrasquad and outside competition. The prior health order allowed intrasquad play without an approved plan.
The new order took effect Dec. 3, and the new requirements will expire on Jan. 15.
Interim Health Commissioner Marlaina Jackson said restaurant and sports safety plans can be submitted to cehadmin@milwaukee.gov.
Plasma and blood donations needed
Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical officer at Versiti Blood Centers, said during a media briefing last week that convalescent plasma and blood donations are needed.
Convalescent plasma is a common treatment for COVID-19 patients. The therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic, uses blood from people who’ve recovered from an illness to help others recover.
“Since the pandemic started, we have not had access to 20 to 30% of our normal blood donors, which is high school students and students in the universities,” Waxman said.
Resources to know
Places where you can get free flu shots
How you can help friends and loved ones who test positive
Where to get free masks
To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd., and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., are now open and operating.
Miller Park test site now has weekend hours
Miller Park’s testing site now offers Saturday hours. The site will be open for drive-thru and walk-up testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Its weekday hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The site, located at 1 Brewers Way, has been one of the busiest in the city.
For more information on testing, including how to identify symptoms and when you should get tested, visit TestUpMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.

author: Matt Martinez


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Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet Tom Tolan, assistant editor | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 8, 2020
Although he worked 24 years for The Milwaukee Journal and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Assistant Editor Tom Tolan is the “new kid on the block” at NNS, where he works with reporters to shape the stories you read. (Photo provided by Tom Tolan)
Name: Tom Tolan
What I do at NNS: I edit reporters’ stories and consult with them about news coverage.
How long I’ve worked here: I started in August 2020.
Why I love NNS: I enjoy my interactions with the dedicated people who work at NNS, and I think it’s super important that the people we cover have a voice in this city.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? I really enjoy, through our reporting, getting to know people I might not otherwise have met. For example, through Damia Causey’s story about Henry Smith Jr. and his store, The Toy Dimension.
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.

created: December 8, 2020

author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 7, 2020


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Lindsay Heights gears up for Phase II of The Commons | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
December 8, 2020
Phase II of Walnut Way’s Innovations and Wellness Commons will bring several health-based services to Lindsay Heights. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the Zilber Family Foundation’s role in the capital campaign for Phase II of the project.
Leaders will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate Phase II of the Innovations and Wellness Commons, which will bring new health-based services to the Lindsay Heights neighborhood.
The Commons, as the project is informally called, is a set of spaces operated by Walnut Way Conservation Corp., a nonprofit neighborhood organization that focuses on economic development and wellness. The project cost $3.3 million in total.
Located in the 1600 block of West North Ave., The Commons will house several health-based services, have capacity for 130 people to meet and a rooftop green space. It was built in a parking lot adjacent to the Phase I building.
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The Commons opened in 2015, with an emphasis on food vendors to increase food security in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood, a stretch of the city between West Walnut and West Locust streets, I-43 and North 20 Street. The neighborhood, which includes parts of the 53205 and 53206 ZIP codes, will now have access to services with a focus on health and wellness.
Antonio Butts, executive director of Walnut Way, said the decisions to include services from the new partners were made with input from Lindsay Heights residents.
“This is truly an effort from within the Lindsay Heights community,” Butts said.
Among the new partners housed in the space are the Benedict Center, Milwaukee Area Health Education Center, Milwaukee School of Engineering Honors, United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee, or UNCOM, and two Black clinicians: Marrika Rodgers, a licensed counselor, and Bridgett Wilder, a licensed dietitian.
The Benedict Center will use the space to run its Sisters program, designed to help women involved in prostitution and human trafficking. The Health Education Center trains community health workers and helps direct community members to health resources.
UNCOM operates a jobs program and the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative, meant to improve quality of life in urban Milwaukee. MSOE Honors will lead students on community service projects in the area. The Phase II  partners will move into the newly constructed space and open on Jan. 16.
Butts said having these partners has helped with fundraising as well, as each of them contributes to shared resources for the space. Outside organizations also contributed to help get the project past the goal line.
The Zilber Family Foundation kicked off and participated in the capital campaign committee with a $750,000 grant in February 2016. Gina Stilp, executive director at the Zilber Family Foundation, said the organization believes in Walnut Way’s vision for the community.
“It’s the way they go about it that matters,” Stilp said. “They’re very people-centered.”
Stilp said the space has a special meaning for the Zilber Family Foundation as well. The namesake of the foundation, Joe Zilber, grew up in Lindsay Heights and believed in the neighborhood’s success.
“It’s bigger than Walnut Way,” Stilp said. “This is a manifestation of the will of the community.”
Lavonda Graham, chairwoman of the board for Walnut Way, said Phase II was her No. 1 priority for the last few years.
“It’s a place for people to seek the help and services they need,” said Graham, who has been a Lindsay Heights resident for nearly 50 years. “They just need to come in and talk to someone.”
Butts said the services provided by the partners will be free. This will be crucial in Lindsay Heights, where roughly 40% of residents live in poverty. The location also is intentionally in walking distance for most residents.
“The whole intent is that these programs and services are available in the neighborhoods where they’re needed most,” Butts said.
Butts said the project will also expand upon efforts to make the community more sustainable, including new environmental efficiency features. Environmental features in the building include a green space on the roof, a solar array, water management features and energy-efficient fixtures.
Butts said Phase II was an important step in the right direction for Lindsay Heights. He said he hope The Commons anchors Walnut Way in the community and becomes a symbol of what’s possible for neighborhood transformation and stability. He also said the group hopes to bring balance to the inequities that exist.
“I think what’s really important is equity,” Butts said. “And equity can be seen in the institutions and organizations in the neighborhood . . .  Our neighborhoods are only as strong as the institutions and organizations that exist there.”


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Post from Community: The 2020 Celebration of International Human Rights Day in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission, Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission and United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee
December 8, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
The 2020 Celebration of International Human Rights Day in Milwaukee
With a Panel Discussion on: “Human Rights – What Have We Learned in 2020?”
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
A Virtual Zoom Event
Saturday – December 12th, 2020 from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Sponsored by the Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission, Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission, and United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee
The program will include welcoming comments from:
• Tony Snell, Chair of the Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission
• Steve Watrous, President of the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee
The following panel members will discuss what we have learned about human rights in 2020 from the perspective of their areas of expertise:
• Panel Moderator: Dr. Robert Smith, Professor with the Marquette University History Department.
• Human Rights and the United Nations: Jamil Dakwar, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Human Rights Program will address the ACLU’s dedication to holding the United States accountable to its international human rights obligations and commitment.
• Equity in Health Care: Dr. M. Riccardo Colella, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, and Health Equity at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the EMS State Medical Director who is actively engaged in health care education and systems development projects in developing countries.
• Essential Workers and Equity Disparities: Sindy Benavides, Chief Executive Officer with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
• Racism and Black Lives Matter: Reggie Jackson, award-winning Senior Columnist for the Milwaukee Independent News Magazine whose articles and presentations cover many aspects of racism in America and Milwaukee. He is a consultant with Nurturing Diversity Partners and volunteers as Head Griot for America’s Black Holocaust Museum.
Advance registration is required. To register with your computer, smartphone, or tablet, click on:
bit.ly/MIHRday
After registering, you will receive an email with a hotlink & information about how to join the meeting.
Captioning and an on-screen American Sign Language Interpreting to be provided. Contact the City of Milwaukee ADA Coordinator at ADACoordinator@milwaukee.gov if additional reasonable accommodations are needed.
For more information, please call 414.708.3319


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UNA-USA-IMAGE-Small.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
December 8, 2020

author: Name *


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How high school seniors can get the cash they need to afford college | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
December 9, 2020
MPS’ college and career readiness centers provide resources for MPS and non-MPS students to get money for whatever their post-high school plans. Here in 2017, Tre’Quan Martin (left), planning assistant at Barack Obama School of Career and Technology Education helps students during a workshop. (Photo by Patricia Kline)
While you may have heard of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, there are lots of other ways to get money to go to school or even to jump straight into the workforce.
We talked to college financial aid officers, scholarship coordinators and college application experts to find out what you need to know about financing your future.
Here are five tips for getting the financial aid you need for your post-high school plans.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
The first thing to do is see what kind of support you can get from the colleges you are applying to. Often this is where students get most of the financial aid they need to pay for school.
Every school is going to be different. Kevin Curley, program director at College Possible Milwaukee, an AmeriCorps organization that helps high school students get into and complete college, says that college applicants should talk to admissions representatives.
“Talk with them about what your needs are. They are the best at navigating the financial aid system at their school and they are there to help you,” Curley said. “Before searching for independent scholarships, see what the school will give you because that may be all you need.”
If you’re not able to get hold of someone, most schools still try to make it easy to find scholarships.
For example, applicants to UW-Milwaukee can fill out a questionnaire on the Panther Portal that matches them to scholarships according to things like their high school GPA, family income or what they want to study. You can still get financial aid through UW-Milwaukee without completing this questionnaire, but completing it maximizes the amount of financial aid you will get.
MATC offers its MATC Promise scholarship that will cover the entire cost of tuition for eligible students after other grants and scholarships are applied. This scholarship is available to adults as well.
MATC also offers its DACA Plus Scholarship to non-U.S. citizens who are not eligible for financial aid because of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA, or undocumented status.
With the help of College Possible, Cymone Newton, pictured here at Vincent High School in 2016, won a scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. (Photo by Sophia Boyd)
After determining what you can get from each school you are applying to, look for outside scholarships. Often these scholarships are not connected to any one school and are available to anyone, though be sure to check the eligibility requirements before applying.
There are a few ways to find these scholarships. First, try College Greenlight. In addition to connecting you with counselors and offering information about colleges, College Greenlight also has a scholarship search engine that is full of scholarships for first generation and underrepresented students.
UW-Milwaukee also maintains a scholarship search engine for students attending or applying to the university. Maria Solis, assistant director of financial aid at UW-Milwaukee, said new scholarships are being added to this search engine all the time.
In addition to information about scholarships offered through its financial aid office, Carroll University also offers a guide to outside scholarships that includes financial aid tips, scholarship databases and scholarships by major. These scholarships can be applied to any school, not just Carroll University.
Every traditional MPS high school has a resource center dedicated to helping students figure out their post-high school plans, whether that be going to college or jumping into the workforce. Most non-MPS high schools will have similar resource centers or counselors who are dedicated to offering similar guidance.
Karolyn Taylor, scholarship coordinator at MPS, maintains a page on MPS’ website dedicated to paying for college. On this page, students can find resources on filling out the FAFSA, upcoming events with colleges and links for MPS students to research schools and scholarships.
The page also includes resources on applying to schools serving primarily students of color, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, that MPS and non-MPS students can access.
Often, students rule themselves out of opportunities without even trying. Amanda Wysk, financial aid assistant at Carroll University, said that students lose out on opportunities because they think they need to be perfect.
“The biggest misconception is that you have to be a ‘perfect student’ to win a scholarship,” Wysk said. “Having good grades will help, but many scholarships don’t have GPA cutoffs at all or have ones that many students can meet, such as 2.0 or 2.5.”
Sometimes, students will decide that a small scholarship isn’t worth the trouble, or that they will get enough in need-based aid from the school that accepts them. While sometimes a school will award you enough to cover tuition, smaller scholarships can help cover other expenses such as books or housing.
For students looking to enter the workforce directly after high school, MPS also maintains a job board with apprenticeships and paid internships for high school seniors. John Hill, director of college and career readiness at MPS, said that many of these opportunities are available to non-MPS students as well.
Here are some additional scholarships specific to Wisconsin or Milwaukee. Note that some of these may not be open until spring 2021.
•Kelben Scholarship
•Sigma Legacy Fund
•Milwaukee Links Chapter
•Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation
•National Society of Black Engineers Milwaukee
•The Milwaukee Urban League
•Kappa Alpha Psi of Southeastern Wisconsin
•Milwaukee Brewers
•Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship Fund
•HER Scholarship Fund
•Rotary Club of Milwaukee

created: December 9, 2020

author: Sam Woods


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 8, 2020


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Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet Matt Martinez, health reporter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 9, 2020
”Milwaukee is a big city, and the neighborhoods and people we cover are full of vibrant and incredible stories,” says Matt Martinez, our health reporter. (Photo provided by Matt Martinez)
Name: Matt Martinez
What I do at NNS: I work on the health beat for NNS, which has a pretty wide range of topics to cover. As COVID-19 has shown us, health can affect every facet of our lives. My stories document how our community has been affected by the coronavirus. I also cover issues of health equity, nutrition and mental health, and any other topic that can be tied back to wellness.
How long I’ve worked here: Six months in December.
Why I love NNS: I believe in the mission of NNS above all things. Milwaukee is a big city, and the neighborhoods and people we cover are full of vibrant and incredible stories. What’s more than that, their residents deserve to have their voices heard. Their concerns, their beliefs, and everything in between, need a home. We provide that home.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? The story I’m most proud of is my profile of Camille Mays, a local activist in Milwaukee who lost her son to gun violence. Her honesty and courage in telling her story made it one of the most powerful and affecting things I’ve written.
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.


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Post from Community: BBB Tip: 8 tips for dealing with holiday pop-up shops | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
December 9, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Some retailers are turning to outdoor pop-up shops during the COVID-19 pandemic. These temporary storefronts allow shoppers to avoid enclosed spaces while still getting to browse in-person. Indoor pop-up shops allow landlords look to fill vacant retail space in downtown areas and suburban malls.
The Better Business Bureau receives hundreds of complaints a year about temporary retail locations, reporting everything from poor quality merchandise to difficulty obtaining refunds after temporary stores have closed their doors. Pop-up shops can be fun, but keep the following BBB tips in mind if you choose to buy from one of them:
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
Research store headquarters. If you are interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, ask the company for its physical location (address and phone number) so you can check its BBB Business Profile at BBB.org.
Ask how long a store will operate. If you are buying from a seasonal store, ask whether it will be open after the holiday and whether it will accept returns when the season is over. If not, consider buying elsewhere or taking more time to be sure the item is exactly what you want before making the purchase.
Review purchase policies. Determine the company’s refund and return policies before you buy. If pop-up shops cannot offer concrete commitments on how they will handle any potential problems you may have with their products or services, reconsider doing business with them.
Shop around. Pop-ups often focus on unique or high-quality gifts that you may not find elsewhere, but some are simply mini versions of discount retailers, offering holiday-themed goods that may be available for less at a traditional retailer.
Pay attention to quality. Occasionally, pop-ups sell counterfeit products, so be cautious when purchasing designer goods or that latest “must have” gifts. Prices that are dramatically lower than regular retail stores may be a red flag that the items are either stolen or counterfeit.
Know the terms of any product or service guarantees. If you are purchasing anything that comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, ask how you will be able to get the product serviced if needed.
Guard your personal information. For small items, you might be better off paying in cash so you don’t have to share any personal information. Just be sure you understand that you probably won’t have any recourse if something is not right. For larger items, paying with a credit card can provide additional protection if there are problems and the retailer disappears. Make sure you hang on to the receipt to match it against your credit card statement.
Consider whether the gift is for a hard-to-please recipient. If you are planning a gift for someone who might need or want to return it, consider buying from a retailer with a long-standing business, strong reputation, and well-established return policies, instead of a pop-up shop.  Whenever possible, ask for a gift receipt that would make a return or exchange easier, if necessary.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2019, people turned to BBB more than 183 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.8 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.


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Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet PrincessSafiya Byers, staff reporter | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 10, 2020
“We tell stories with the genuine interest of informing and celebrating Milwaukee,” says PrincessSafiya Byers, a staff reporter. “It’s a rare experience to work for an organization that cares about the people it serves as much as NNS does.” (Photo provided by PrincessSafiya Byers)
Name: PrincessSafiya Byers
What I do at NNS: Most of the time I am talking to people and working to turn those conversations into useful articles for our readers. The rest of the time I am working with NNS editors and following various issues, organizations, committees in hopes of keeping readers up to date on what is happening in our community.
How long I’ve worked here: I have worked at NNS as a staff reporter since June 2020, but I worked as an intern September 2019.
Why I love NNS: The work we do at Milwaukee NNS is authentic. We tell stories with the genuine interest of informing and celebrating Milwaukee. It’s a rare experience to work for an organization that cares about the people it serves as much as NNS does.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? I am so proud of how we’ve covered the eviction crisis in Milwaukee. We’ve been able to focus on those affected and providing resources to them.
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.

created: December 10, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 9, 2020


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NNS Spotlight: She started baking cookies to bless others during the pandemic. Now she’s an entrepreneur. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
December 10, 2020
Sherry Green started a cookie business during the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Sherry Green)
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.
Sherry Green first started baking to stay busy during the pandemic.
“I would make them, and people would comment and say, ‘Make me some cookies and I’ll pay you for them,’” she said. “Or they would reach out wanting to have them delivered.”
Now the 54-year-old Amani resident has started her own business. Sherry’s Chicago Style Butter Cookies LLC became official in mid-October.
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It’s a labor of love for Green, who works as a special education teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools.
She said she started delivering cookies to people anonymously to help them get through the pandemic.
“I just wanted to provide a sweet treat to lift people’s spirits,” Green said. “And people started requesting to have cookies sent to loved ones with a card attached.”
Green received support through the Amani Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, which focuses on neighborhood safety, housing and economic development.
Helping rising entrepreneurs is part of the plan, said Denisha Tate-McAlister, the project director at the Dominican Center, 2470 W. Locust St. The center serves as an “anchor” for improvement efforts in Amani.
“We set her up with the Legal Aid Society, which is our partner organization,” said McAlister-Tate. “Some of their pro bono work includes helping people complete paperwork when launching businesses.”
Sherry’s Chicago Style Butter Cookies had its public debut at an end-of-summer event thrown in Amani.
“I didn’t even know I could be a business owner,” Green said. “Especially during a pandemic.”
A friend and customer of Green’s, Audrey Jamerson, said Green’s cookies stir up precious memories.
“These cookies remind of those made by my great-grandmother,” Jamerson said. “Like you can feel the love in them.”
Jamerson also blames them for causing her to gain weight during the pandemic.
“The first time I had them, I picked them up as curbside pickup,” Jamerson said. “I ate four cookies before I even got home.”
To order cookies, you can call Green at 414-795-0273 or email her at sheygreen22@gmail.com.

author: PrincessSafiya Byers


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Post from Community: Community comes together to raise $60 million with United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
December 10, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County celebrated a successful conclusion to their 2020 fundraising campaign raising $60,109,477.
“What an amazing community we live in,” said Amy Lindner, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. “We are seeing first-hand how truly generous people are. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made a gift to our 2020 campaign. We’ve all seen the challenges people are facing during the pandemic. We called our community, and so many answered that call. The generosity we witnessed this year was phenomenal.”
The total includes funds raised through United Way’s COVID-19 Urgent Needs Fund, which responded immediately to urgent needs of local nonprofits by providing financial support and critical supplies.
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The totals were announced Wednesday evening, December 9, 2020, during a virtual campaign closing celebration, sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.
“The people in our community continue to impress me with their generosity,” said Linda Benfield, managing partner of the Milwaukee office of Foley & Lardner LLP and the United Way Board Chair. “This generosity makes it possible for United Way to affect the lives of so many in all of our neighborhoods.”
The 2020 community campaign was chaired by Kelly Grebe, community leader; Austin Ramirez, Husco; Dr. John Raymond, Medical College of Wisconsin; and Jud Snyder, BMO Harris Bank. More than 150 community members made up the campaign cabinet, representing sectors including nonprofit, healthcare, financial services, and education.
“I would like to thank our incredibly generous community,” said Kelly Grebe. “Your philanthropy continued, you did not disappoint. Even with all the challenges 2020 brought, you stepped up to ensure we had a very successful United Way campaign.”
“This community stepped up with incredible generosity despite having plenty of reasons to just hunker down and care for itself,” said Austin Ramirez. “We are so lucky to live in a community that’s full of selfless leaders and engaged companies. Thank you to each and every one of you that worked to make this campaign a success.”
“This year, urgent needs became critical and, in some cases, even desperate, and United Way rose to the challenge,” said Dr. John Raymond. “I’ve been privileged to witness the compassion and generosity of so many in our community. Being a co-chair this year was a humbling and uplifting experience for me and one of the most meaningful of my career.”
“We’ve seen so many campaigns outperform this year, and I’ve been touched to see so many give at a higher level at a time of such urgent need,” said Jud Snyder. “The outcome of our 2020 campaign magnifies the profound pride I have in our Milwaukee community.”
Each year, from August through December, United Way holds an annual fundraising campaign. Nearly 1,500 companies and organizations and 50,000 donors contribute to the campaign, allowing United Way to invest in local programs and initiatives. These investments support the health, education, and financial stability of hundreds of thousands of people in the community.
Funds are also directed toward strategies to end family homelessness, reduce barriers to employment, bridge the digital divide, and meet urgent needs like COVID-19 relief and cold weather relief.
Investments are made in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties.
United Way Campaign Largest Corporate Supporters


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5 things to do and know the weekend of Dec. 11 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 11, 2020
Near West Side Partners and the United Methodist Children’s Services are hosting a community cleanup on Saturday, Dec. 12. (Photo by Near West Side Partners)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Milwaukee Public Museum: At home stargazing: Friday, Dec. 11
The Milwaukee Public Museum is temporarily closed to the public, but it has found a way to bring its planetarium show “Wisconsin Stargazing” to your home. Milwaukee residents can explore Wisconsin’s night sky from sunset to sunrise from the comfort of their homes. This week’s show is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11. Tickets cost $10 per household but are free for members. Ticket holders will receive a link to the livestream before the show. Click here to view previous planetarium videos.
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2. Community cleanup: North 27th Street: Saturday, Dec. 12
United Methodist Children’s Services and Near West Side Partners are hosting a community cleanup starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12. The organizers plan to clean up North 27th Street and will meet at Tiefenthaler Park on North 27th and West Cherry streets. Masks, gloves, garbage bags and pickers will be provided.
3. Family craft day at Vibez Creative Arts Space: Saturday, Dec. 12
Vibez Creative Arts Space, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., is hosting a family craft day from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12. Participants can craft in person at the studio or pick up a to-go kit. To order a kit, click here. The kits include materials to make ornaments.
4. “Hip-hop & Health”: Sunday, Dec. 13
Local elected officials and musicians are coming together to present “Hip-Hop & Health,” an event focused on promoting health information in the Black and brown community. The event will take place virtually over Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13. Those interested are encouraged to register by Saturday, Dec. 12. There will be a panel discussion, live music and more.
5. Support Milwaukee’s 13th annual holiday drive: Ongoing
The City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have teamed up once again to host the 13th annual holiday drive. This year, donations will be made to Hope House of Milwaukee and the Guest House of Milwaukee. Items needed include household necessities, essential clothing items, baby supplies, nonperishable food items and more. Each group has made an Amazon Wish List. Click here for Hope House and here for Guest House. Monetary donations can be made to the drive’s GoFundMe page or checks can be addressed to the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation and mailed to: Attn: Nick Ramos, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., Room 201, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Bonus: Free holiday portraits: Sign up by Tuesday, Dec. 15
It has been a long year and NNS wants to end it on a sweet note by celebrating our community — that means you!
Our photographers will be taking free family portraits just in time for the holidays.
On Dec. 19 and 20, photographers from NNS will meet families in our community at their front door for a physically distant photo shoot. After coordinating a time, all you need to do is get dressed up in your holiday best and the photographer will take a keepsake photo of you and your family in front of your home.
Afterward, we will share a digital version of the photo with you and include it a gallery on our site.
Curious what this might look like? We did a similar physically distant photo shoot for the Class of 2020, with the results in this gallery.
To sign up, fill out this Google Form. Deadline to participate is 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Bonus: Make it your business to keep NNS in business
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is conducting our annual fundraising campaign. As a nonprofit newsroom, you are never charged to see our work. Yet our labor is not free. Our staff needs and deserves to be paid. Please support us so we can continue telling the stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Donate here.
Bonus: The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed on coronavirus by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

created: December 11, 2020

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
December 10, 2020


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Here’s what you need to know if you’re worried about your utility bills | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods and News414
December 11, 2020
If you are behind or falling behind on your utility bills, check out our Instagram story to get the resources you need.

author: Sam Woods and News414


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How a project on hoops earrings launched a national movement | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
PrincessSafiya Byers
December 11, 2020
Nicole Acosta (right) is pictured at the HOOPS exhibition. (Photo provided by Nicole Acosta)
For Nicole Acosta, documenting the existence of women of color is a necessity.
But she did not know she would inspire a movement.
Acosta, 37, is a Milwaukee-based multi-disciplinary artist and the marketing and communications associate for Ex-Fabula, an arts organization that uses storytelling to connect communities. She focuses on the lives of Black and Brown women through photography, visual art and written word.
Acosta’s HOOPS Portrait Project has gained both national and global attention for drawing attention to the cultural and personal meanings that hoop earrings hold for women of color.
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“Hoops are symbolic in Black and Brown communities, as well as indigenous communities,” Acosta said. “They hold meaning for men, women and everything in between.”
The HOOPS Portrait Project began as a campaign for an exhibition in which members of LUNA, a Latinx artist collective, created works inspired by their own experiences centering on hoop earrings. As a member, Acosta held a photo session for LUNA, asking its members to wear their hoop earrings and encouraging them to share stories prompted by the question: “What do hoop earrings mean to you?”
Acosta realized that “the act of adorning our ears with hoops is a personal choice, a statement deeply rooted in liberation and visibility.” Around the same time, she said  other people were reaching out to her wanting to share their stories about hoop earrings and what they meant to them.
“It was inspiring,” said Jazmine Delgado, a former co-worker of Acosta and now a  close friend. “We would go a week or two without talking, and every time I spoke with her, she’s telling about more people who want to participate in this project.”
Acosta decided to do a free hoops earring photo shoot for those who wanted to come out and share their stories, and the project took off.
“What happened was that a story done on the project went viral on social media,” Acosta said. “And people around the world were sharing and telling their stories.”
Acosta said people across the country reached out to her asking for a hoops photo shoot. Before the pandemic, she had planned to travel to New York and Los Angeles for the project.
“One day one of my friends asked me if I knew that I had started a movement,” Acosta said. “That’s when I realized that this project was a responsibility.”
Acosta has already held a MKE HOOPS show, showcasing the photos at Arts @ Large, 1100 S. 5th St. She also held a virtual exhibit in August via Zoom. She is currently working on putting the photos into a book along with people’s stories.
Acosta’s experiences as the child of immigrant parents being raised in Milwaukee plays a huge role in the art she has chosen to create.
“I was always the Brown kid in the class of white kids. “I didn’t even realize how diverse school could be until I got to high school,” said Acosta, who attended Milwaukee High School of the Arts.
“That was when I realized the documentation of our existence was important.”
According to friends, Acosta embodies her work.
“Nicole has been wearing hoops for as long as and well before I knew her,” said her friend Kari Garon  “I’ve watched her use them to explore and support her history and as a tool for building kinship, community and culture.”
Garon said she has been able to watch Acosta’s growth.
“When we became friends, Nicole was in a hard place in survival,” Garon said. “It has been beautiful to watch her give herself permission to be a human being, to breathe and to grow.”
Acosta said she has had a long struggle with mental health issues, and that to do the work she does, she has had to find ways to deal with it. She goes on runs, meditates often and has found that being vulnerable about her struggles helps.
“When I started my healing journey,” Acosta said, “I realized that sharing allows you to connect with other people.”
Acosta advises others to pursue their goals, despite the doubts others may have.
“I didn’t ask for permission to follow my dreams,” she said. “I just did what I wanted to do.”


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Inside the NNS newsroom: Meet Damia S. Causey, jobs and career columnist | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
December 11, 2020
“Our staff is a jambalaya of multiple races, and everyone adds their own flavor to our NNS pot,” says Damia S. Causey. “We’re probably one of the most diverse newsrooms in the state.”
Name: Damia S. Causey
What I do at NNS: I am the jobs and career columnist. My column, “Causey’s Career Corner,” not only highlights job openings but also profiles people who have taken alternative career paths to reach their current status. I also offer job training and education information, interview tips and other information job seekers may find relevant.
How long I’ve worked here: Since November 2019. I’ve found my tribe.
Why I love NNS? The diversity not just in ethnicity but also in thought is one of the biggest reasons I love working for NNS. Our staff is a jambalaya of multiple races, and everyone adds their own flavor to our NNS pot. We’re probably one of the most diverse newsrooms in the state.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
What are you most proud of? I’m most proud of how our work at NNS covers the people of our city in a different way. We get to go deeper than a quick broadcast soundbite or a one to two paragraph summary of a person’s life. We get to tell the backstories of the people and neighborhoods that we cover. Our online paper is unique in that we produce award-winning work, and our content is free to the public.
How to help
Make it your business to keep NNS in business by donating. Your money pays for the dedicated staff of reporters and editors who work hard to connect you to our communities.


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Aggressive policing escalates violence at protests, research shows. A former Madison police chief touts a better way. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Clara Neupert, Wisconsin Watch
December 12, 2020
Atleast 1,500 young people gathered on Madison, Wisconsin’s Mifflin Street inApril 1973 for a block party. People drank beer, smoked weed and tossedFrisbees in a neighborhood near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
Policeofficers observed the party from a distance, greeting attendees and directingtraffic away from the event. They didn’t wear police caps, nor did they makearrests. The Saturday unfolded
peacefully,in stark contrast to Mifflin Street parties of the past.
Theannual event began in 1969 as a dance and protest of the Vietnam War, eruptingthat year into a weekend of unrest that injured dozens. Officers responded to anoise complaint and began arresting people for minor infractions.
Thepolice action spurred people in the crowd to toss rocks at the officers. Astension escalated, police raided homes, launched tear gas and
rammed barricades with squad cars. Madison officials would viewsubsequent Mifflin Street parties as nuisances in need of quashing, refusing toissue permits to close streets.
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In1970, Vietnam War protests escalated, culminating in the deadly bombing of
UW-Madison’s Sterling Hall. When the Mifflin Street block party rolled around in 1971,then-Mayor William Dyke dispatched a riot squad to control the crowd.
EnterDavid Couper. Appointed police chief in 1972 at age 35, he sought to change thenarrative surrounding the party — and his department. The city permitted the event,and it “went off without a hitch,” Couper recalled. It would continue to do sothroughout his 21-year tenure.
Thatwas due to a strategy that would forge the department’s reputation foroverseeing protests that stayed peaceful. Couper’s philosophy of respectingfree speech and assembly offered a blueprint for police to ditch militarizedcrowd control tactics that, decades of research shows, more often escalateviolence rather than prevent it.
“Whydoes it have to be the police versus people who want to protest? Why can’tpolice be there to facilitate protest?” Couper told Wisconsin Watch.
Summer of unrest and escalation
Thosequestions are resonating in a tumultuous 2020. Several Wisconsin cities —including Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa — saw police don body armor andfire crowd control weapons during protests that, at times, turned destructive.The events unfolded during a summer of nationwide unrest following policekillings and shootings of Black people.
Thenational spotlight has shined most brightly on Kenosha, where a police officerduring an Aug. 23 domestic disturbance shot Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Blackman, in the back seven times, sparking consecutive nights of protests.
Violenceand property damage rapidly escalated in the hours following the shooting afterlaw enforcement began firing lung-damaging tear gas and rubber bullets intothe crowds. Officers continued such tactics during subsequent nights, includingon Aug. 25 — when 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot two people andinjured another after responding to calls for vigilantes
to protect property in Kenosha.
TheMadison model of dialogue may not have prevented the mayhem in Kenosha, becausepolice lacked training and did not first do enough to gain Black residents’trust in the deeply segregated city, said Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, a historyprofessor at the UW-Eau Claire with expertise in civil rights and the military.
TheKenosha Police Department did not respond to repeated requests for commentabout tactics used with protesters. The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Officedeclined to respond to emailed questions.
Lawenforcement’s response in Kenosha — including the early use of armored vehiclesand the decision to arrest protesters en masse
for curfew violations — ran counter to established best practices.
“Historyhas taught us that the premature or ill-advised use of force againstprotesters, particularly the use of riot control techniques, often amplifiesconflict with protesters and can instigate violence,” Edward Maguire, aprofessor of criminal justice at Arizona State University, wrote in a 2015 study.
Thepillars of Couper’s philosophy remain embedded in the Madison PoliceDepartment’s standard operating
procedure. “We protect people first and property second,” the documentsays.
Butafter Madison this summer saw its own smashed storefronts and chemical cloudsduring confrontations between police and protesters — interspersed betweenweeks of peaceful demonstrations — Couper is among those questioning whether hisformer department retains public trust.
“Ifyou start using tear gas or pepper spray, you’ve pretty well lost things,” saidCouper, now an Episcopal
priest and peace activist. “People are going to remember that for years.”
Decades of scrutiny for aggressive
policing
Coupercame of age in policing during the turbulent 1960s, forging relationships withMinneapolis-area residents as he patrolled by foot. Racial unrest swept citiesnationwide during the summer of 1967, with Detroit and Newark, New Jerseyseeing the most violent clashes between police and Black residents. Milwaukee,where decades of racist housing policies and police brutality fueled outrage inBlack-majority neighborhoods, saw an uprising that resulted in four deaths and 100
people injured.
PresidentLyndon Johnson’s Kerner Commission would later conclude that policeaction sparked half of the 24 nationwide uprisings probed in detail. It calledfor police departments to “eliminate abrasive practices” and recommendedmassive investments in housing and economic programs to bolster quality of lifefor Black residents. A previous Johnson commission called on police to morecarefully plan their response to protests and engage with organizersbeforehand.
“Policemust not react to disorder in the course of demonstrations too quickly or withtoo much force,” said that commission’s 1967 report.
Coupersaid he “figured (police) had to do something different” after Martin LutherKing Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968.
AsCouper policed in Minnesota, Madison saw protests against the Vietnam War andother targets, including police brutality and racism. Protesters held sit-ins, marched
and damaged property. Police often responded with billy clubs and tear gas.
Decadeslater, Ducksworth-Lawton said evidence is only growing that militarizedpolicing only escalates violence between crowds and police.
“Theproblem is that the ‘us versus them’ militarized occupation mentality createsanxiety and nervousness and (police) don’t know how to de-escalate,” she said.
Officersare more likely to keep crowds peaceful by targeting those whose actions areendangering the public, while continuing to protect the rights of peacefulprotesters, ASU’s Maguire wrote in 2015.
Maguirepointed to a “graded response” as a way for police to limit tension whilekeeping themselves safe. That involves staging tactical tools nearby but out ofsight for use if needed.
“Ifthey are visible to the crowd, instead of enhancing officer safety, they mayplace officers at greater risk by escalating matters,” he wrote.
‘Freaks vs. Fuzz’ and other
changes
Coupersaw a trust gap between Madison residents and police when he became one of theyoungest police chiefs in city history in 1972. He began meeting withorganizers ahead of protests and etching respect for the First Amendment indepartment policy. Couper sought to instill a “peace officer” mindset.
Hisideas initially elicited grumbles from some veteran officers, according to newsreports from time. But Couper generally received
high marks from city officials and younger officers.
WhenCouper retired in 1993, the U.S. Department of Justice studied his department’s work in creatingan experimental district in which officers made decisions in teams. Officersreported better attitudes and fewer residents perceived crime as a problem inthe community.
Butmany U.S. police departments beginning in the 1990s embraced more militarizedtactics.
Couperincludes Madison in that camp, pointing to its participation in the federal 1033 Program, allowing state and local departments to access
Department of Defense property. That mostly includes “general” items, such as furnitureand computers. But the program also loans out weapons and other itemsassociated with war, called “controlled property.”
Wisconsinpolice departments, sheriff offices and other agencies have accessed more than$42 million in controlled property since 1994, federal data show.
‘We have an obligation to intervene’
Unrestin Madison this spring reignited emotional conversations about how local policerespond to protests.
Onthree consecutive nights beginning May 30, Madison police clad in riot gearfired tear gas, pepper spray and sponge projectiles to disperse people who tookto the streets after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd.
Afterthousands of Madison protesters peacefully marched during daytime protests,smaller groups smashed vehicles and broke into stores. Madison police said officers fired crowd control weaponsonly after people began damaging property and throwing rocks. But the chemicalclouds also stung peaceful protesters and bystanders.
“Nothingturned violent until police instigated the violence,” Nick Harrison, a27-year-old Madison resident who protested one night, told Wisconsin Watch. “Isaw a strong sense of community until the police showed up, dressed for war.”
ActingMadison Police Chief Vic Wahl said officers deployed tear gas only because somepeople “were intent on creating and engaging violence.”
“Wehave an obligation to intervene,” Wahl said in July.
The Quattrone Center for
the Fair Administration of Justice is now examining the policeresponse at Wahl’s request.
Wahlsaid he continues to follow Couper’s model. His department communicated withprotesters ahead of many marches throughout the summer, he said. Madisonofficers shifted to a hands-off approach following the incidents of late Mayand early June, and downtown stayed peaceful for weeks.
Butvandalism and violence returned in late June when a group of protesters toredown two statues near the state Capitol andassaulted state Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee. Officers used pepper spray tothwart a break-in of the Capitol.
Republicanstate lawmakers scolded Madison’s leaders for failing to prevent the episode.
TheMadison Common Council in October approved a measure requiring MPD to study its use oftear gas. The council will review the findings before weighing whether to banits use.
“It’snot a healthy substance,” said Ald. Patrick Heck, one resolution sponsor. “Itwas quite problematic — not just for the people who were targeted by the teargas but people standing by.”
Anothernew ordinance limits the police department’s useof the 1033 Program.
Wahlsaid he wants to improve his department but opposes limiting its crowd controlarsenal and worries about a “frenzy right now about policing.”
Couperis sure of one thing as he examines policing from the outside: “Things have gotto change.”
Wisconsin
Watch intern Will Cioci contributed to this report. Clara Neupert is a
reporting fellow for Wisconsin Watch. Her fellowship is funded in part by the
Ann Devroy Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Wisconsin
Watch (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with
Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of
Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works
created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not
necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its
affiliates.

created: December 12, 2020

author: Clara Neupert, Wisconsin Watch


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200825_KENOSHA11-1170×781 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Dwayne Burtin
December 11, 2020

author: Dwayne Burtin


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Dwayne Burtin
December 11, 2020


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Dwayne Burtin
December 11, 2020


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COVID-19 killed a thousand Wisconsinites in three weeks. These residents don’t see the danger. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Howard Hardee (Wisconsin Watch)
December 12, 2020
Dantrusts practically nothing the media and medical establishments say about theCOVID-19 pandemic. He considers the threat overblown. And saying as much onTwitter has triggered some heated arguments.
“Youquestion anything, you get told you’re going to kill grandma or you’re doingsomething wrong, and you’re made to feel like you’re unpatriotic for notputting on a mask,” he told Wisconsin Watch.
Danof Muskego, Wisconsin, is an active voter who’s worked for the past severalyears at a restaurant. He requested that Wisconsin Watch omit his last name forfear of online harassment. He counts himself as one of the few people watchingthe “real world,” unlike those who “live in ignorance.”
Believingthat “both sides of the aisle are completely corrupt,” Dan characterizesCOVID-19 stay-at-home measures as a deliberate attempt by Democraticpoliticians to “tank” the U.S. economy.
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“Ifeel like they’re trying to literally destroy businesses,” he said. “And thatfits into what I believe is the greater agenda: … Trying to get peopledependent on government income.”
He’snot alone in seeing stay-at-home orders and business restrictions as acoordinated assault on commerce rather than a last-resort measure to slow thespread of a highly infectious disease that has claimed more than a quarter of amillion lives in the United States, including more than 3,700 in Wisconsin.
Inthe spring, an estimated 1,500 protesters
gatheredat the Wisconsin State Capitol, demanding that the statewide COVID-19 lockdownbe lifted. Others blame the wearing of masks — a key public health strategy —for causing rather than preventing infection.
Overthe summer, members of the Appleton City Council were forced to bat downunfounded rumors that contact
tracers were surveilling residents. And in an extreme example,staffers at the Milwaukee Health Department recently received death threats for enforcing COVID-19 orders,according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Misinformationhas been a destructive force working against the state’s coronavirus response,said Dr. Jeff Pothof, chief quality and safety officer with UW Health.
“Idon’t think any of us thought, when the pandemic started, that one of thebiggest barriers we’d have to overcome would be misinformation from people whohave no idea what they’re talking about,” he said.
Skepticsinterviewed by Wisconsin Watch include people who embrace the increasinglypopular QAnon conspiracy theory, are generally suspicious of vaccinations,consume nontraditional medical advice and value personal freedom above whatthey believe are exaggerated public health considerations. They alsoacknowledge that their beliefs have put them crossways at work and with family.
Conspiratorialthinking is common during national crises, said Dietram Scheufele, acommunications professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studiespublic attitudes and policy dynamics surrounding emerging science.
“It’spartly human nature,” Scheufele said, adding that such theories have beenfueled by government officials including President Donald Trump.
Scientistshave been tasked with
striking down misinformation on COVID-19 while their own  understanding of the new coronavirus evolvesin real time — leading to confusion, skepticism and even denial around therespiratory disease.
“Weknew that we would produce a lot of science that would turn out to be wrong,”Scheufele said. “You make a mistake in the spotlight with 330 million Americanswatching, that mistake — maybe a small one — will be seen by everybody.”
The roots of denialism
Thatso many people believe the pandemic isn’t real, or at least isn’t a big deal,is partly the work of mind mechanisms known as biased assimilation andmotivated reasoning.
“Itdoesn’t really matter what you tell me because I’m just going to fit it into myexisting belief system, and I’m really not going to change what I think,”Scheufele said, describing the phenomena. “Of course, during a time like apandemic — where we do need to change behaviors, we do need to change ourinteractions with one another and our daily routines — that’s just utterlydysfunctional.”
Thisdenialism plays into a looming issue — vaccination — which could prove criticalas the world moves into a sensitive new phase of the pandemic. While nationsrace to develop multiple coronavirus vaccines for distribution, many U.S.residents say they will not take them.
Havingworked in education for 28 years, “Susan” said she would walk away from her jobat a school district in northern Wisconsin if she is required to be vaccinatedagainst the coronavirus. Susan asked Wisconsin Watch to use a pseudonym becauseshe fears coming out against vaccination could jeopardize her career.
“Alot of people in our school district and in the health care field up here feelthe same exact way; they do not want it,” she said. “It was done way too fast.”
Roughlythree in five U.S. adults said they “would definitely or probably” get aCOVID-19 vaccine in a national survey conducted by Pew Research Center inNovember — up from about half of respondents in September. But that means two infive do not plan to get vaccinated.
Susanbelieves the pandemic is real but overhyped. She tested positive for COVID-19on Sept. 29, after falling ill with similar symptoms in January. (She believesshe caught the coronavirus twice.) After missing nearly a month of work betweenthe two bouts of illness, she’s still short of breath and has difficultywalking down the hallway at work.
Mixed mask messages breed distrust
Susanblames the mask she is required to wear on the job for her labored breathingand generally disapproves of Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate. She doesn’t thinkmasks help slow the spread of COVID-19, insisting that they instead represent ahealth hazard.
“Ithink that since the mask mandate went into effect, it got worse in northernWisconsin,” she said.
Whathappened in northern Wisconsin was not unique, however. The Upper Midwest,which was spared the surge that hit New York in April and early May, beganseeing an increase in COVID-19 infections this summer that has continued intothe winter in states with a variety of mandates around masking.
Andno evidence supports the claim that wearing a mask is harmful toyour health. But early in the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention discouraged mask-wearing by the general public unless they werehaving COVID-19 symptoms.
TheCDC reversed course on
April 3,which caused some to question the agency’s advice. Subsequent studies haveverified that masks protect wearers and others from the sprayof respiratory droplets of virus when worn over the nose and mouth. The CDC recently recommended “universal mask wearing” for allindoor activity outside an individual’s home and for outdoor activities wheresix feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
Althoughshe’s fiercely opposed to wearing masks and taking a COVID-19 vaccine, Susanfavors another statewide stay-at-home order to combat the virus that has takenher breath away. And she trusts public health officials such as Dr. AnthonyFauci  — sometimes.
“DoI believe Dr. Fauci? Damn right I believe him. He’s damn good at what he does,and I am a firm believer in him,” she said, pausing. “Except for the mask partof it. I don’t believe that.”
‘I do not need to be afraid’
JulieDrigot believes that “wearing a mask is absolutely insane.”
“Keepingpeople locked up is not ever going to be normal, and wearing diapers across mymouth is never going to be normal,” she said, adding that wearing masks makesher dizzy.
Acareer teacher, Drigot recently moved to the little hamlet of Little Prairie tofulfill her dream of running a small farm school; a handful of children visither a couple of times a week for instruction.
Drigotsaid she was “paralyzed with fear” during the early days of the pandemic. Assomeone with a pre-existing medical condition, she was afraid that “this wasgoing to kill me.”
Shewent looking for information sources that were more reassuring. Drigot consultsa number of websites known to produce pseudoscientific content, such as TheHighWire with Del Bigtree, a major voice in the national anti-vaccinationmovement.
Thewebsite has promoted anti-mask sentiment and the debunked “Great Reset” conspiracy theory, which claims world leadersorchestrated the pandemic to destroy capitalism and take control of the globaleconomy.
InJuly, Bigtree’s YouTube account was deactivated for
pushing misinformation about vaccines and COVID-19, including his suggestion thatpeople should intentionally expose themselves to the coronavirus.
Drigottakes issue with the “censorship” of voices like Bigtree’s. All viewpointsshould be shared freely, she said.
“Ican make up my own mind, thank you very much, right? That’s my attitude,”Drigot said.
‘Looking for the truth’
Describinghimself as a politically “middle of the road,” Dan admits to having a historyof conspiratorial thinking. But he takes issue with the term “conspiracytheory,” which he says has been used to discredit truth-seekers.
“Lookingfor the truth, you kind of guide yourself there, and eventually you come toyour own understanding of what’s going on,” he said.
Inmild-mannered tones, Dan described his belief in QAnon — the baseless far-right theory that Trump is helping to expose acabal of Satan-worshipping, child-cannibalizing celebrities, journalists andpoliticians. Dan said he began following QAnon since it emerged on theanonymous message board 4Chan in October 2017.
“Asmuch as the media attacks it,” he said, “it makes it more legit to me.”
He’swary of how quickly the vaccines were developed and wonders whether the “endgame” is forced vaccinations. All evidence is refutable, he said, and, “There’sno real information.”
Arguinghas caused difficulty in Dan’s personal life. He used to talk freely aboutpolitics with his mother, but that changed during Trump’s presidency, he said.
“We’rebeing pitted against each other, and it doesn’t feel very good,” Dan said.“It’s terrible. It’s not fun to be living in this.”
Howard Hardee is a Madison-based
journalist who created a misinformation toolkit for consumers funded by the Craig Newmark Philanthropies. He is a fellow
at First Draft, an organization that trains journalists to detect and report on
disinformation. Wisconsin Watch (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin,
other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism
and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by
Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison
or any of its affiliates.

author: Howard Hardee (Wisconsin Watch)


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Dwayne Burtin
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Dwayne Burtin
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Dwayne Burtin
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Dwayne Burtin
December 11, 2020


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5 things to do and know this week in Milwaukee: Dec. 14 to Dec. 19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
December 14, 2020
The Marcus Performing Arts Center is showing a virtual performance of “The Hip Hop Nutcracker.” (Photo provided by Marcus Performing Arts Center)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by .
1. NNS family holiday portraits sign-up deadline
To celebrate the end of the year, NNS is offering to take your family’s holiday portrait for free. If you or someone you know lives in one of the neighborhoods we cover, please consider signing up. Photographers from NNS will meet families at the door for a physically distant photo shoot. The deadline to sign up is 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
2. ThriveOn Collaboration virtual office hours
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The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is hosting virtual office hours for its ThriveOn Collaboration project, a community-centered collaboration led by the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Royal Capital Group. The project involves transforming the North King Drive corridor into a hub for residents and includes offices for MCW centers and programs as well as the foundation’s new headquarters. This week, Laice Perry, a fellow with ThriveOn, and community leaders will be available to answer questions regarding community spaces, the Medical College of Wisconsin programs, resources and more. Office hours will be from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
3. “REPair Divides: Creating Home in 2020”
The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre has a new virtual dialogue series, “REPair Divides.” The series focuses on celebrating Milwaukee’s collective resilience and creativity. This week’s theme is creating a home in 2020 and features performances by Idris Goodwin and Melody Betts. A facilitated discussion in partnership with the Zeidler Group also will take place. If you are interested in attending, you must RSVP by To RSVP, email athome@milwaukeerep.com. The conversation will take place virtually from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17.
4. Yoga class with Eat Move MKE
Milwaukee Recreation in partnership with Eat Move MKE is hosting a yoga class on Facebook Live. The class is 45-minutes long and will begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17. Participants are asked to arrive a few minutes early so that class can begin on time.
5. “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” virtual performance
The Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St., is offering a virtual performance of “The Hip Hop Nutcracker.” The show will be available to watch at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18 and at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19. “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” is a contemporary take on the classical ballet. The performance was recorded live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $50 for VIP.
Check out our list of holiday events and drives
The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is conducting our annual fundraising campaign. As a nonprofit newsroom, you are never charged to see our work. Yet our labor is not free. Our staff needs and deserves to be paid. Please support us so we can continue telling the stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Donate here.
The latest coronavirus coverage from NNS
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporters are hard at work bringing readers up-to-date information regarding coronavirus. Stay informed by following us on our Facebook page and subscribing to our daily newsletter. All coronavirus related articles can be found on this landing page. If you have a question or concern about coronavirus, send them in our way. We’re here to serve you.

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Adam Carr
December 13, 2020

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PHOTOS: The new and improved Pulaski Park, generations in the making | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Travis Hope
December 14, 2020
In this photo gallery, Travis Hope of the KK River Neighbors in Action resident group revisits the newly renovated Pulaski Park.
The Kinnickinnic River’s renaturalization first started getting attention in 2008, and across my three photo galleries, you can see the past, progress and completion of a cornerstone of the project — Pulaski Park.
In 2017, I took photos of the park when we knew changes were coming and in 2019, I photographed construction while it was in progress. My daughter Iveliz came along with me for all three of these adventures. I hope you will revisit the first two galleries to really get a sense of accomplishment that is Pulaski Park.
Toward the end of summer, a few weeks after the rebirthed Pulaski Park was open to the public, I explored the park to share a view of what generations can enjoy in the future. The new additions include expanded walking paths, a new bridge, upgraded playground and basketball court, a futsal court and more. Plus, the Kinnickinnic River has been returned to nature and is a river again for the first time in generations for all to enjoy.
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I hope all explore Pulaski Park in the upcoming winter and hope to see all enjoy the park in 2021 and beyond, for this was truly a neighborhood project for all to have input and enjoy.
Please “like” and follow the KK River Neighbors in Action for future meetings and events being held at Pulaski Park and the KK River Plaza.

author: Travis Hope


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Post from Community: BBB Tip: How to support small businesses during a pandemic holiday season | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Wisconsin Better Business Bureau
December 14, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
This year has been especially rough on small businesses. This holiday season, small companies need your support to make it through these uncertain times. Here are BBB’s tips on how everyone can show small businesses some love.
By temporarily closing their doors, limiting capacity, or scaling back services, small businesses are helping to keep their customers and employees healthy. But the loss of income makes it tough to cover on-going expenses like rent and salaries. These tips may help your favorite businesses have the cash they need to make it through these lean times.
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Practical Ways to Support Small Business:
If your own wallet is feeling the pinch, here are some free ways to support small businesses.
For More Information
Go to BBB.org/holiday-tips for more details as well as information from BBB on how to shop safe this holiday season.
For more tips and information about coronavirus, see BBB.org/coronavirus.  Businesses, check out this advice for navigating the coronavirus crisis and visit BBB.org/smallbusiness.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2019, people turned to BBB more than 183 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.8 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Wisconsin which was founded in 1939 and serves the state of Wisconsin.


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Post from Community: Data Dream Awards provide $30,000 in services for Milwaukee-based organizations: Six winning organizations seek to improve their impact through data | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Data You Can Use
December 14, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Every year, Data You Can Use, a nonprofit research agency, offers services to the winners of the Data Dream Award, a competition which helps charitable organizations acquire and interpret the data they need to succeed. This year, six nonprofits were named as winners, and each will receive $5,000 in pro bono services from Data You Can Use to fulfil a specific need that contributes to the improvement of a program or strategy to improve the community. Winners were selected through a competitive process and vetted by a panel of expert judges in data sciences and philanthropy.  The data projects will begin in January 2021 and be completed by the end of the calendar year.
“We are so excited to see all the great work being done in Milwaukee, and to help nonprofits get the data they need to be even more effective,” Katie Pritchard, President and Executive Director of Data You Can Use.
Data You Can Use named the winners at the 6th Annual Data Day: Recovery Requires Data in October. The annual conference hosts leaders, from neighborhoods to universities, who want to better understand the implications of data on community revitalization, and how to increase connections between research and practice.
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Winners of 2020 Data Dream Awards include:
Sponsored by Herb Kohl Philanthropies, New Concept Self Development Center won their data dream to improve matching participant needs with services. New Concept’s mission is “To preserve families and protect children while promoting self sufficiency.”  Their data dream is to have a proper tool for tracking inquiries from potential participants, an accurate demographic image of program participants, results of participant program completion and goal attainment, and the frequency in which individuals return for additional services offered. http://www.ncsdc-inc.org/
Sponsored by Siebert Lutheran Foundation, Project Return won their data dream to assess how many of the approximately 2,700 people returning to Milwaukee County from incarceration need housing, healthcare and employment aid to ensure individual success. Project RETURN exists to help men and women who have experienced incarceration make a positive, permanent return to community, family and friends.  Programs offered address direct needs of those they serve, reducing barriers to increase the prospects of success and lower the chances of recidivism. https://www.projectreturnmilwaukee.org/
Sponsored by Zilber Family Foundation, Revitalize Milwaukee won their data dream to identify trends and tell more vivid stories about the families they serve. Revitalize Milwaukee is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose goal is to preserve affordable housing and revitalize vulnerable neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Their mission is to preserve affordable housing and transform communities by providing free, critical home repairs and comprehensive services to low-income veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities.  https://www.freehomerepairs.org/
Sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, Pearls for Teen Girls won their data dream to use data to strengthen and streamline programs for an even bigger impact. PEARLS improves the quality of life and strengthens the community one girl at a time by empowering young women with self-development tools, guidance, and support to strive for better, brighter futures by living out PEARLS values: Personal Responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Respect, Leadership, and Support. https://www.pearlsforteengirls.com/
Sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, Lead2Change won their data dream to show the return on investment for career readiness training for high school students. Lead2Change is a career-readiness organization that engages young people in leadership opportunities and equips them with essential tools to be successful in college, their career and the community. The program helps young people enter the postsecondary world confident and clear about their career interests and their position in the ever-evolving workforce.  https://lead2changeinc.org/
Sponsored by Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the people’s choice award went to the Historic MLK BID for their data dream to achieve zero-vacancy: no vacant land, no vacant buildings. The mission of the Historic King Drive BID is to improve and revitalize the district and bring investment and new businesses to the area. They provide services, information and resources to prospective and existing investors, sponsors, property owners and business owners. These specialty incentives include: aesthetics, events, marketing, tenant recruitment, funding and many more.  https://kingdriveis.com/
Data Day also featured keynote speaker Liz Dozier, who founded and serves as CEO of Chicago Beyond, publisher of “Why Am I Always Being Researched?”, a guidebook for funders, researchers, and community organizations on how to deconstruct harmful power dynamics when researching communities. The guidebook sparked a speaker series on antiracism that has been joined by more than 100,000 individuals globally and has provided entry points for people with the desire to learn what it means to be anti-racist.
Dozier reflected on the experience saying, “Gatherings like Data Day are incredibly important for a multitude of reasons – from grounding us in community to reminding us that we are not alone in this work. And no matter where we fall on our own journeys, we all must remember that if we believe data drives decision-making, we must care how it gets made.”
“The idea of how we use data equitably for recovery, what data gets used, how it’s collected, and who benefits is so important, especially now as we face many levels of recovery in our communities,” said Dr. Kathleen Pritchard, President of  Data You Can Use.
Two hundred participants, primarily from the greater Milwaukee area, attended the virtual conference, which also featured best practices and small group sessions from local agencies.
Data You Can Use
We are a diverse group of local professionals who help people access data and make it useful in improving community conditions. We help connect people who need data to people who have data and assist in accessing, analyzing, translating, interpreting and presenting data. We can help you ask the right questions to get the right data, put it into a local context, present it visually and put it to work in addressing issues important to you. We subscribe to the principles of the Urban Institute’s National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership and work to democratize data by building local capacity, sharing best practices and helping users sort through the data to surface, explain and address

author: Data You Can Use


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Post from Community: Heard Space — 3rd Annual Holiday Kind of Show, this Friday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Heard Space
December 14, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
“A Very Scary Holiday Kind of Show” will be held online Friday, December 18 at 7 p.m. Heard Space is a multimedia performance arts collective based in Milwaukee, creating productions that are led + produced by womxn of color. This year our crew will be celebrating the beloved holiday, Friendsgiving, together, (virtually of course)! With their gathering being virtual, there’s some awkwardness that leads to scary storytelling that leads to supernatural occurrences- yikes!
At the end of the performance we will open the floor to an open mic where attendees can share their reactions or their own performative art. The open mic is followed by a holiday raffle. Raffle prizes include: a $50 gift certificate to Ramie & Co., Milwaukee Film Festival Fan Dual Membership, 2 Tickets to an ExFabula StorySlam, Handcrafted polymer clay gummy bear keychain by DoodleDaaze with a bag of real gummy bears and more!
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Details:
Fri, December 18, 2020
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM CST
Price: $5
For tickets visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heard-space-presents-a-very-scary-holiday-kind-of-show-tickets-130743939643
Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3a-90h-uPA&feature=youtu.be

author: Heard Space


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Post from Community: MATC to graduate more than 800 Students in virtual commencement Dec. 11; Ceremony also to air on Milwaukee PBS Dec. 19 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Area Technical College
December 14, 2020
Editor’s note: Posts from the Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.
Milwaukee Area Technical College will graduate more than 800 students in a virtual Winter 2020 Commencement which will be made available for viewing at matc.stageclip.com beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11. It also will be broadcast by Milwaukee PBS Channel 10.1 at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
The decision to hold a virtual rather than in-person ceremony was made as MATC continues to prioritize health and safety amid the COVID-19 crisis.
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Students will graduate from associate degree, technical diploma, apprenticeship and adult high school programs. Each student has been asked to upload photos or video messages to be inserted into the ceremony.
The keynote speaker is Raquel Filmanowicz, who recently took a leave of absence from her job at BMO Harris Bank to serve as the CEO of the 2020 DNC Host Committee, the nonpartisan organization responsible for organizing the civic activities of the convention. Now back at BMO, she is director of the bank’s Economic Equity Advisory Group. Previously, she served as BMO’s director of U.S. community affairs. She also has previously served as the health operations administrator and health communications officer for the City of Milwaukee Health Department. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Cardinal Stritch University and a certificate in corporate community involvement from Boston College.
Other speakers include Dr. Vicki J. Martin, MATC president, who also will officially confer the degrees; and Tammy Jo Scholler, who is graduating with an associate degree in human service. A recipient of the MATC Promise for Adults scholarship, Scholler is the first president of MATC’s Black, Indigenous and People of Color — or BIPOC — Allies student organization.
Watch the commencement at matc.stageclip.com beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11; or on Milwaukee PBS Channel 10.1 at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

author: Milwaukee Area Technical College


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December 10, 2020