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Post from Community: Local Farmer Open House | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Anne Steinberg
February 17, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Local Farmer Open House
March 7, 2020 – 11am – 3pm
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1500 E. Park Place, Milwaukee, WI 53211  in Riverside Park on the east side of Milwaukee.
A free, family friendly, once-a-year opportunity to visit with local farmers and arrange to buy farm-fresh healthy food directly from them – including a urban farmer in the Walnut Hill neighborhood
A dozen small-scale local farmers from SE Wisconsin – farmers who use sustainable growing methods and sell directly to the public – will take part in the 18annual Local Farmer Open House at the Riverside Park branch of the Urban Ecology Center.
One of these farmers is David Johnson of Cream City Farms, an urban farm located in the 30Street Corridor based in the Walnut Hill neighborhood.  In this innovative project in a reclaimed industrial site, Cream City Farms is “dedicated to growing great produce for our local community as well as creating jobs for our residents.” Community members subscribe to this farm and pick up produce right at the farm or get it delivered to their homes in nearby neighborhoods. They can also work on the farm to help pay for their food.
Community members will be able to meet David at the event and  learn about the variety of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription options offered by  all these farmers — with different sized subscriptions that work well for all sizes of households, custom-sized shares and installment payment plans. There will be information at the event about accommodations for households on a tight budget including special assistance funds, rebates, ad using SNAP benefits and worker shares (working on the farm in exchange for food).
Families are encouraged to bring their childrenfor new activities just for kids. They can explore how plants grow and what it takes to grow their very own vegetables, play farm-themed games, discover the wonders of decomposers and pollinators, and even plant their own seedlings to take home.
This educational event is free including workshops:
11:30 AM & 1:00 PM – CSA Basics Workshop
Learn how Community Supported Agriculture works & how to select a farm.
12:15 PM -Chef Cooking Demo with Simple Cafe  – Using Farm Fresh Ingredients
1:45 PM – Cooking from Your CSA Box
How to use the contents of your CSA box to prepare quick healthy meals. Recipes, tips and resources for cooking seasonally from scratch will be provided
Lunch will be available for purchase from the Simple Cafe
For more info: UrbanEcologyCenter.org/LFOH
Meghan Forseth, Branch Manager at Riverside Park, says “The Local Farmer Open House does a great job of informing people on how to support local farmers while eating healthy and keeping your food options affordable. There are many ways in which people can take advantage of rebates and special assistance fund options. Eating healthy doesn’t always mean it’s going to be expensive and the Open House will provide people with affordable options.”
Anne Steinberg, an event organizer, describes why she is a long-time CSA member: “I first joined a CSA 14 years ago because I was looking for the freshest, most nutritious veggies — and the food is better than I imagined. In these years I’ve also come to appreciate that choosing to spend my food dollars with a local sustainable farmer is something I can do to reduce my carbon footprint, protect our environment and to help small family farms stay in business.”

author: Anne Steinberg


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
February 17, 2020

source: news-milwaukeenns

created: February 17, 2020

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

author: Name *


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Everything you need to know to cast your vote in Milwaukee on Tuesday | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 18, 2020
Voters will decide on Feb. 18 which candidates in several key races will make it to the runoff election in April. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, voters in Milwaukee will have the opportunity to help shape the city’s future by participating in the spring primary election. Several key races are on the ballot, including ones for mayor and Milwaukee County Executive.
Voters get to decide which two candidates will advance in April for a run-off. Here are some steps to ensure that your voice is heard that day.
How to register?
The deadline to register to vote online or via mail is 20 days before an election, meaning you’ve already missed that opportunity. But you can still pre-register today for the April election or register at a polling site on Feb. 18. To check if you’re already registered at your current address, click here.
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You can contact the Milwaukee Election Commission at 414-286-3491 if you believe you should be registered but cannot confirm your registration record, said Neil Albrecht, executive director of the commission.
According to Albrecht, even if you’ve pre-registered, you still need to show your ID at the polls. However, the address on your ID does not have to be current if you’re pre-registered.
If you’re registering at a polling site on Feb. 18, and the address on your ID does not match your current address, you’ll need to bring a separate proof of address. Acceptable forms of proof of address include a paycheck, bank statement or a utility bill that shows your current and complete name and current residence. Not just any piece of mail is considered acceptable proof of address, Albrecht stated. Click here for more examples of acceptable proof.
You’ll need a photo ID that meets the state’s requirement to register on Tuesday. Those include Wisconsin Department of Transportation issued driver’s licenses, military ID cards, a U.S. passport or a certificate of naturalization that was issued no more than two years from the date of the election. For a full list of acceptable IDs, click here.
Where and when do I vote?
Voting begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 8 p.m. you will have an opportunity to vote. Polling location is dependent on the address where you are registered. You can find out where your polling station is and preview your ballot by entering your address on the city’s Where do I Vote/What’s On My Ballot? webpage.
Additional tips from Albrecht
Resources
Wisconsin Elections Commission
Milwaukee Election Commission

created: February 18, 2020

author: Edgar Mendez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 12, 2020

created: February 12, 2020

author: Adam Carr


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‘Far too common’: Tragedy is latest example of how cases of domestic violence continue to plague Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 18, 2020
It was a Wednesday in late January 2019, the coldest day in years in the city. Temperatures had dipped into the negative teens, shuttering schools and business. While residents were hunkering down to avoid frostbite, Milwaukee police officers raced to a home at 7007 West Fiebrantz Ave. to respond to a call of shots fired.
The first officer to arrive at the cream-colored brick, ranch-style home on the city’s Northwest Side noticed that the front door was off the hinges. Then he heard yells. Inside, he saw a man, Ramone Jones, 42, standing between the kitchen and dining room, while his ex-girlfriend, Jamie Wilson, a 36-year-old mother of two, sat on the couch.
Officers saw a hole in the floor and found a spent bullet casing. Inside of a hallway vent they found a 9mm handgun with three cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber.  Jones was arrested that day and charged with two counts of endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.
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Those charges weren’t enough to keep Wilson safe. Less than a week later, Jones was out of jail, released on $1,000 bail. Two days after that, Wilson was dead, stabbed six times, with one of the wounds penetrating her right lung and piercing an auricle of her heart. Wilson, whose 11-year-old daughter was also at home, bled to death in the garage, a victim of domestic violence, a crime on the rise in Milwaukee County in recent years.
On Monday, the latest high-profile case hit Milwaukee as residents mourned the deaths of Amarah “Jerica” Banks, 26, and her daughters Zaniya R. Ivery, 5, and Camaria Banks, 4.
All three were found  in a garage Sunday in the 4700 block of West Burleigh Street. They were the victims of homicide, police said. Arzel J. Ivery, 25, Banks’ boyfriend, was arraigned Monday morning in Memphis on a fugitive from justice warrant.
“Domestic violence is far too common in Milwaukee and across our nation,” Ald. Khalif Rainey of the Seventh District said in a news release Monday. “We must do a better job of working together to protect our women, and to protect our girls, from the physical and psychological abuse that can wreck lives and tear families apart.”
Speaking Monday at a news conference where the bodies of Banks and her daughters were discovered, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said that 20 percent of all homicides in the city in 2019 were intimate-partner related.
According to data from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, there were 9,423 domestic violence incidents involving 9,756 victims in Milwaukee County in 2017 – a  24 percent increase from 2016, when 7,326 incidents involving 7,512 victims occurred. Law enforcement officials and domestic violence advocates in Milwaukee suggest that the trend is continuing, with deadly results.
Despite increased reports of domestic violence incidents, the crime is still “severely underreported,” says Carmen Pitre, executive director of the Sojourner Family Peace Center. Sojourner, which opened its first shelter in a renovated duplex on Wisconsin Avenue in 1978, moved to its current location in 2016. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Domestic violence incidents in general, while always common, are increasing  nationally, according to anecdotal information being received from partners and allies across the country, said Ruth Glenn, president and CEO of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Glenn, whose organization is based in Denver, said 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence from a domestic partner, with one quarter of women being victims of severe (strangling, beating, burning) physical violence.
The increase in incidents over the past several years could be the result of a shift in cultural norms that have made misogyny more acceptable, she said.
“Quite frankly, it’s a culture that says that it’s OK to mistreat women,” Glenn said.
Despite the murders and increased reports of domestic violence incidents, the crime is still “severely underreported,” said Carmen Pitre, executive director of the Sojourner Family Peace Center, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that has served as a national model for treating victims of domestic violence.
Sojourner, which opened its first shelter in a renovated duplex on Wisconsin Avenue in 1978, moved to its current location in 2016. The sprawling complex on the corner of 6th and Walnut streets has increased the visibility of the center and helped bring victims out of the shadows, Pitre said.
“There is a ton more community awareness. More people are coming forward,” she said. Victim empowerment movements and the increased visibility of the center in Milwaukee have helped victims come forward, she said.
Still, said Pitre, getting victims to even call police is just one step. Protecting them involves a much longer process that has been difficult to achieve.
Up the stairs on the second floor of the Sojourner Family Peace Center sits a small office that houses the Milwaukee Police Department’s Family Violence Unit. The unit, which launched nearly seven years ago, began with one officer and one victim advocate. It has since expanded through the addition of some staff and through a partnership with MPD in which a community liaison officer from each Milwaukee police district is assigned to help the high-risk team to support victims.
It’s the Family Violence Unit’s responsibility to follow up with officers who respond to domestic violence incidents. Through “lethality assessments,” a set of questions officers responding to domestic violence calls must administer, officials rank the risk of murder from 1-26, with 26 being the highest. Incidents that push the number higher include strangulation and the use of a weapon, said Andrew Wagner, an officer in the Family Violence Unit.
Officials interviewed said there is a large gap in the number of domestic violence incidents and the number of charges and prosecutions that follow.
Officers conduct an assessment, collect evidence that can be used to prosecute suspects and give victims a referral to Sojourner.
Some cases are followed up on by the Family Violence Unit, while others, such as in the case of Wilson, fall through the cracks. Police on the scene that day were not informed that Jones had lived at the home, so domestic violence enhancers were not added to the charges against Jones. Those charges might have kept him in jail.
As for the murder of Banks and her children, a criminal complaint details that her neighbors called 911 on Feb. 8, reporting that a woman screamed, “don’t kill me, don’t kill me,” and that another witness saw Banks running through a parking lot, bleeding from the mouth before being dragged back inside the apartment building.
Police officers were unable to locate the 911 caller or Banks, although they did discover evidence of a possible attack – a hole in the bedroom wall that could have been caused by a person’s head.


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 17, 2020


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Two to know: This dynamic duo loves to tell your stories | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Claudia Delgadillo
February 18, 2020
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Miela Fetaw is no longer employed with Black Lens. Her service with the organization ended Feb. 8 after the “Black women behind the lens” event.
Editor’s note: Milwaukee is filled with many ordinary people who do extraordinary things. This year, from time to time, NNS will briefly highlight individuals who are helping our community. To nominate your neighbor, please send an email to info@milwaukeenns.org and put “Two to know” in the subject line.
Miela Fetaw, 24, communications and press coordinator for Black Lens, wants to write a romantic comedy featuring people of color. “We need to give a bigger platform for stories about women, vulnerable communities, about people of color, about black people,” she says. (Photo provided by Miela Fetaw)
Name: Miela Fetaw
Age: 24
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Why she’s worth knowing: Fetaw served as the communications and press coordinator for Black Lens, a cultural pillar of Milwaukee Film. She recently moderated the “Black women behind the lens”  event that took place Feb. 8. Fetaw also works with 371 Productions, a local film company, and is producing a feature documentary.
What she says: “It’s such a joy to work with an organization like Milwaukee Film and Black Lens as a program that appreciates women of color and women of color filmmakers. What I appreciate about women of color filmmakers, but in particular black women filmmakers, because I identify as a black woman, is just how we have normalized the presence of black women and women of color as equal and as equitable partners in storytelling, especially when it comes to telling creative and cinematic narratives about women of color. We do that in a way that a white male filmmaker cannot do and honestly does not do justice.”
What she loves about her job: “I’ve always been a storyteller, and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to tell stories since I was young in different mediums. Thanks to working at 371 Productions and working at Milwaukee Film as a Black Lens staff member, I’ve been introduced to storytelling in a different capacity and it happens to be film.”
What’s next for her: “One of my biggest aspirations in life is to write a successful and relatable romantic comedy that stars people of color. I’ve seen all the white ones and I feel like if I can relate to those and still find the beauty and the humor in love and in stories where characters don’t look anything like me, then we need to give a bigger platform for stories about women, vulnerable communities, about people of color, about black people and helping program events like Black Lens’ 2020 Black History Month events helps do that.”
“If we want to tell the whole story, we have to include all the people,” says Sheri Williams Pannell, who recently directed “The Gospel at Colonus” at Skylight Music Theater and also is the artistic director at the Bronzeville Arts Ensemble. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Name: Sheri Williams Pannell
Why she’s worth knowing: Williams Pannell performs, directs, writes and teaches musical theater at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has worked for many organizations in Milwaukee such as First Stage, The Florentine Opera, the Milwaukee Rep, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Skylight Music Theater. She recently directed “The Gospel at Colonus” at Skylight Music Theater and also is the artistic director at the Bronzeville Arts Ensemble.
What she says: “I work with all people. If we want to tell the whole story, we have to include all the people. Even though there are stories that are centered around African American family and African American community, we live in a world with many different backgrounds and cultures. That is another gift of being a storyteller. Through theater, we have the opportunity to showcase humanity in all of its wonderful form on stage.”
What she loves about her job: “It is important to practice the craft that I have dedicated my life to. I am fulfilling my calling . . . especially to tell stories that uplift and have a redemptive quality to them, that inspire and encourage people. The arts help us to discover ourselves and to honor ourselves. I think we are obligated to give back to our communities. Whether we are teaching at the university or college or, as I do, volunteering at my church working with the drama ministry. It is important to give back to the community that has invested in you.”

author: Claudia Delgadillo


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Places in Milwaukee where you can find help for domestic violence | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Xiao Liu
February 19, 2020
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include addtional resources.
As cases of domestic violence continue to torment our communities, we have compiled a list of places where you—or someone you love—can get help.
Name: Hmong American Women’s Association
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Phone: 1-877-740-4292
Address: 3727 West National Ave.
What it does: The first and only Hmong women’s organization in the state, HAWA dedicates its resources to the advancement of Hmong women and girls. It offers services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Name: Diverse & Resilient’s Room to Be Safe program
Phone: 414-856-LGBT
What it does: We opened three years ago and recently expanded due to VOCA funding. We have advocates in Milwaukee and in northeast Wisconsin. Our anti-violence program works with LGBTQ survivors, primarily LGBTQ People of Color.
Name: UMOS Latina Resource Center
Phone: 414-389-6500
Address: 2701 South Chase Ave. Suite D
What it does: The UMOS Latina Resource Center provides comprehensive and holistic supportive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The center serves all genders, races, ethnicities and age groups.
Name: Milwaukee Women’s Center
Phone:  414-671-6140
What it does: The center provides services that deal with family violence, a 24-hour domestic violence crisis line, older abused women’s program and a treatment program for batterers.
Name: Sojourner Family Peace Center
Phone: 414-276-1911
Address: 619 W Walnut St.
What it does: The center works to ensure the safety of victims of family violence and provides a pathway out of violence for victims and abusers through opportunities to make positive and lasting changes for themselves and their children.
Name: IndependenceFirst
Phone: 414-291-7520
Address: 540 S. 1st St.
What it does: IndependenceFirst provides services to people with disabilities who are currently victims of violence or abuse, have been in that situation in the past or want to prevent abuse. It offers: domestic violence counseling, individual advocacy, system advocacy, classes on self-protection and other services.
Name: Milwaukee LGBT Community Center
Phone: 414-292-3070
Address: 1110 N Market St., Second Floor
What it does: The center provides assistance to LGBT individuals who have experienced or otherwise been impacted by intimate partner violence, sexual assault and abuse, stalking, physical assault, harassment, bullying, bias-related incidents, hate crimes and other forms of violence by advocating on their behalf, encouraging and assisting with crime reporting and accompanying crime victims to medical exams or court appearances if requested.
Name: Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
Age: 414-897-5630
Address: 1032 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive
What it does: The centers’ Social Services Department offers help and assistance for those experiencing domestic violence.
Name: Alma Center
Phone: 414-265-0100
Address: 2821 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., Third Floor
What it does: The Alma Center works locally and nationally to break the cycle of domestic violence in families by changing abusive men.
Name: The Asha Project
Phone: 414-252-0075
Address: 3719 W Center St.
What it does: The Asha Project is a domestic and sex trafficking prevention organization specializing in African American culturally specific services.
Name: The Women’s Center
Phone: 262-542-3828 (24 hour hotline)
What it does: The center works with adult and child survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and trafficking. Programs include: emergency crisis shelter, transitional living apartments, free onsite child care. Programs are offered in Spanish, and  translation in any language provided. All programs are offered at no cost and open to survivors from any community around the state and beyond.  All genders welcome.
Name: Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center (GLIIHC)
Phone: (414) 316-5092.
Address: 930 W. Historic Mitchell St.
What it does: The Behavioral Health Department’s Circle of Strength Program staff utilizes a culturally responsive, trauma-informed approach for the prevention and treatment of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, or if you are unsure if you are experiencing any form of abuse or maltreatment, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for help. If you are in immediate danger dial 911. You can also contact GLIIHC Behavioral Department Deputy Director Deborah Black, a Licensed professional counselor, on her confidential line at (414) 316-5046
In case you missed it: ‘Far too common’: Tragedy is latest example of how cases of domestic violence continue to plague Milwaukee
Did we miss an organization that offers services for those affected by domestic violence? Post it in the comments below or send us an email at infor@milwaukeenns.org.

created: February 19, 2020

author: Xiao Liu


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 18, 2020


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Causey’s Career Corner: Your place for job tips, motivation and career advice | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Damia S. Causey
February 19, 2020
From time to time, we will trace the career journeys of leaders in our community. Today we put Ald. Khalif Rainey in the career spotlight.
: Khalif Rainey
39
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City of Milwaukee Alderman of Seventh District
Four years as alderman; 16 years in politics total
High school: Graduated from Riverside
College: Graduated from Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences at Southern University A & M
When I was a senior in high school, I went to four different high schools-three in Arkansas, and I wasn’t performing well academically. One teacher, Mr. Wild, saw something in me.  He thought I could do more and encouraged me to go to a four-year college.
Jack Rosenberg gave me a scholarship for $20,000 to go to college. He only asked that I finish college and serve my community. I promised him that I would do just that. And I did.
Khalif Rainey, 39, says being an alderman is a “tireless job” that requires commitment to serving the community. (Photo provided by Khalif Rainey)
I remember when before I was alderman, the job carried an allure. But it’s a tireless job. It doesn’t stop. Aldermen really work hard. Even though we all have the same title, we don’t have the same job. What Stamper (Russell Stamper II of the 15 District) has going on in his district may be different than the challenges in my district or Milele’s (Milele Coggs, alderwoman of the Sixth District). It’s a very challenging job. I don’t know if the community realizes how hard aldermen work.
First it requires self-reflection. What am I trying to achieve? What do I hope to reflect?
You have to understand the science of politics.
You have to be able to fundraise.
You have to get out, knock on doors and meet people.
I majored in political science. There really is a science to politics.
The summer after college, I interned with Ashanti Hamilton.
After that, I went to work for Gwen Moore as a constituent liaison. I was the first African American male to work in Congresswoman Moore’s district office.
After 10 years of working for her,  I decided to run for county supervisor.
It should be on your core priorities. I ran because I wanted change in my city for my family.
Some of the most inspiring people are not elected officials. We all have the opportunity to be leaders and impactful on our blocks, in our own neighborhoods.
You don’t have to be a politician to do that. You can make changes in your community.
Coming attractions
: Walnut Way
: Neighbor Night: An Info Session on Level Up: MCFI’s Food Industry Job Training Program
Wednesday, Feb. 19from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
: Walnut Way, 2240 N. 17 St
Food will be served.
Click here to register.
: Argus Technical Services
: Argus Fair Chance Thursdays for justice-involved persons
: Thursday, Feb. 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
: Employ Milwaukee, 2342 N. 27 St.
On the spot interviews with Batteries Plus!
Please dress for success and bring copies of your resume!
For more information, contact Frederick Nelson at Frederick.nelson@employmilwaukee.org
Goodwill Workforce Connection Center
: Recruitment event
Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
: Central Library 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Please come dressed and prepared for an interview. Bring resumes.
For more information, click here.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
: Spring 2020 Career Fair
Feb. 28from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
: UW-Milwaukee Union/Wisconsin Ballroom 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
Free LinkedIn portraits are being offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Click here for more information.
Milwaukee Public Schools
MPS student job fair
March 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
UW-Milwaukee Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
For more information, click here.
Students who completed a work readiness session at their school are eligible to attend the job fair. Students can speak with their counselor or stop in any College and Career Center with questions and to receive a permission slip. Bus transportation will be provided for students to attend the job fair.
Create a professional email address for job searches. Make sure your email address does not include nicknames, profanity or offense language. For example, don’t do this: Damiadoingitbigcauseygang@gmail.com. Do this: damiacausey@milwaukeenns.org. Your email address introduces you.
I will share stories of those who have taken a nontraditional approach to employment or an unusual career path. I will also list employment information such as job fairs, resource fairs and job training events. I encourage organizations to email me at damiacausey@milwaukeenns.org with career information.

author: Damia S. Causey


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RAINEY | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 18, 2020


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Post from Community: MPL offers free hotspot program for patrons | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Public Library
February 19, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
The Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) announced today that it is expanding a pilot program that increases internet access for Milwaukee residents through free hotspots, physical elements allowing up to 10 devices to connect to the library’s Wi-Fi. The library first piloted 50 hotspots at the Mill Road, Mitchell Street, and Washington Park branch libraries.
Thanks to a generous $50,000 donation by Wells Fargo, an additional 75 hotspots will now be available at the Martin Luther King branch library in the Harambee neighborhood. The additional hotspots will provide internet access to 750 devices.
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“MPL is honored to receive this grant, and for the opportunity to partner with our friends at Wells Fargo to enrich the lives of residents by increasing digital access outside the physical library,” said Paula Kiely, Library Director. “The mission of MPL is to help residents read, learn and connect, not just to our resources but to each other and the world beyond. Thanks to the generosity of Wells Fargo, the expansion of our hotspot program increases our ability to do that.”
Hotspots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. They cannot be held or reserved, and a checkout can’t be renewed in a 21-day period. If hotspots aren’t returned after 21 days, they are deactivated. Unlike other materials in the MPL system, hotspots must be checked out and returned to the same location. Check out is limited to patrons 18 years of age or older.
“Our library system continues to evolve and develop new, invaluable resources for Milwaukee residents,” said Regional Bank President Tony Nguyen. “Wells Fargo is proud to support this digital advancement to expand the library’s reach and extend internet access for the Harambee neighborhood.”

author: Milwaukee Public Library


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 19, 2020


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Post from Community: The Office of Violence Prevention and The Asha Project to host community forum regarding recent incidents of domestic violence in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
City of Milwaukee Health Department
February 19, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
This forum is open to the community and will feature agencies focusing on services for survivors, perpetrators, and community outreach and advocacy. This is an issue that impacts thousands of people in our community on an annual basis. The goal of this forum is to create a space for people to speak out regarding experiences and ideas for preventing and responding to domestic violence in Milwaukee.
What: Love Without Violence Community Forum
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Where: Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum: 2620 W. Center Street
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2020
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm

author: City of Milwaukee Health Department


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Post from Community: Why spay and neutering your pets is important | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Renee Lynn Glembin
February 19, 2020
(File photo by Karen Slattery)
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
During the entire month of February, the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Center (MADACC) on Milwaukee’s South Side will be offering free spay and neuter services for cats.
Since opening its doors in 1999, MADACC has provided animal control services, shelter and low-cost, and often free, health care services for thousands of animals in nineteen municipalities. MADACC differs from the Wisconsin Humane Society in that it is the holding center for lost and stray animals rather than those surrendered due to the owner no longer being able to keep their pet.
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According to its website, MADACC is an “open-admission facility” that, along with providing shelter for lost pets, cares for sick and injured animals as well as those who may be deemed aggressive. Thus, its services are essential to keeping our communities safe for both humans and non-human animals. Like the Wisconsin Humane Society, MADACC does provide adoption services and has dogs and cats at their facility who are looking for their forever homes. However, despite MADACC’s best efforts, it is completely unrealistic to think that all of these animals will ever leave the shelter. This cold reality is especially true for cats.
According to MADACC’s Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator, Kathy Shillinglaw, MADACC took in over 1,900 unwanted cats and kittens in 2019, the majority of them from Milwaukee County. That astounding number is due to the over breeding and unchecked breeding of cats, who, according to the Humane Society of the United States, can begin getting pregnant at five months and can have more than one litter per year which leads to millions of unwanted cats annually. It is obvious that there are not enough homes for all of these cats, so many end up being euthanized or living desperate lives in the alleyways and streets of our cities.
But the question is, with so much human suffering and homelessness in Milwaukee, why should we care about any of this?
I contend that we should care because just perhaps, it all begins there.
By attending to, and caring for the “least of our brothers,” that is, the furry, four-legged kind among us, we are opening our hearts a little bit more to actually caring for one another. Kindness begets kindness. Compassion begets compassion.
There is much research to support the fact that positive interaction with animals yields positive results for humans, while cruelty to animals is a red-flag indicator of psychological maladjustment. The correlation to domestic violence and pet abuse, for example, has garnered more attention and with good reason. In the early 2000s, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) cited in its Legislative Services report a study conducted by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence which established that “85.4% of women and 63.0% of children reported incidents of pet abuse after arriving at domestic violence shelters…” and further asserts that violence against animals can be “one of the most visible parts of an entire history of aggressive or antisocial behavior,” and further cautions that, “There is a legitimate fear that the individuals involved in violent acts against animals present a danger to the public that must be addressed.”
And while many might not see how allowing a litter of kittens to be born as cruel and, in fact, I am not suggesting that it rises to the same level of concern mentioned above, one only has to remember that for every litter of kittens born that finds loving homes, there are twenty (or more) other such litters that will not.
And while MADACC does not euthanize animals for lack of space purposes, it is not healthy to have animals caged up for long periods of time. Doing so increases the likelihood of an animal’s contracting a virus or of kittens not being socialized well enough to become a member of some human family, at which point they might need to be euthanized. Also, having an abundance of kittens means other animals that have been waiting may not be adopted. This puts undue stress on the people who work at the shelter and it takes needed resources away from other shelter necessities such as maintenance, management and the updating of the facility.
Therefore, spaying and neutering your cat is really the only healthy, viable option for you, for your cat and for our collective community.
Contrary to what some falsely believe, neutering and spaying does not change an animal’s personality. It will not make them fat and lazy. It is not dangerous, and cats recover quickly from the surgery. Rather, when spayed or neutered, your pet will have less chances of developing cancer, will not go into heat, will not have the urge to wander and will have more of an opportunity to live a longer, healthier life, which is, after all, what anyone who loves their companion animal truly wants, right?
So, with the services for cats being offered free this month – and low cost vaccinations, spay/neuter and vouchers per financial need for all pets throughout the year – by the veterinary professionals at MADACC, there simply is no reason not to take advantage of this valuable resource and in the process, make our world a tiny bit kinder and more compassionate.

author: Renee Lynn Glembin


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‘This is how I am going to die’: How one domestic abuse survivor lived to tell her story | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Damia S. Causey
February 20, 2020
I was 21 years old. And I finally left after almost eight and a half years of being isolated from my family and being cut off from my friends.
Up until I left, he’d been mentally abusive and controlling. But never physically. I wasn’t allowed to watch a TV show or read a book without his approval. I wasn’t allowed to attend my last year of high school.
He’d throw away the children’s gifts from family members because they were Christian and we were Muslim. My phone calls were monitored and I couldn’t befriend/talk to anyone without permission.
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My family members gave up and I ended up not speaking to them for over a year. I was isolated, alone and had no one. Just how he wanted it.
All psychological mind games.
I was miserable and knew for the sake of my daughters, I had to GET OUT!!! I wasn’t allowed to work so I had no money to leave. And two kids, 2 and 4 years old. He wasn’t going to allow me to leave while he was home so I had to plan.
I had to call my parents. I begged them to let me come home. Fortunately, they said yes. I left safely while he was at work.
Of course he apologized and said things would be different… blah, blah, blah… just come home. I said no.
I was working, making my own money within two weeks of leaving. It felt good.
Fast forward two months later. He was dropping the kids off one morning and the look on his face let me know I was not safe. All 6 ‘6, 240 pounds, shoe size 16 of him jumped on me and had me flat on my back, his knees pinned down my shoulders and he was choking me.
I COULDN’T DO ANYTHING!
I thought to myself: This is how I’m going to die!
My entire family was downstairs and hadn’t heard a thing because he choked me so violently and quickly, I didn’t have a chance to scream. He only let me go when he realized I was fading. He snapped back to reality and ran out the house before my family even realized what happened.
The most dangerous time for an abused person is when they get the strength to leave. The abuser realizes they no longer have control!
Yes, I pressed charges.
No, I didn’t drop them at his lawyer’s request.
Yes, I had a no-contact order for two years (he could still see his children just not me).
Most important, I lived to tell this story.
We must do better supporting victims of abuse.
Co
The Office of Violence Prevention and The Asha Project are hosting a community forum on recent incidents of domestic violence in Milwaukee from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum: 2620 W. Center St.
Advocates, survivors and service providers will convene to discuss strategies and opportunities for addressing domestic violence in our community.
The goal of this forum is to create a space for people to speak out regarding experiences and ideas for preventing and responding to domestic violence in Milwaukee.
In case you missed it: 10 places in Milwaukee where you can find help for domestic violence
In case you missed it: ‘Far too common’: Tragedy is latest example of how cases of domestic violence continue to plague Milwaukee
Read and see: Damia Causey talks with TMJ4 about her experiences.

created: February 20, 2020


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49513705698_16fe8df8d0_k | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 19, 2020


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5 things to do this weekend: Feb. 21 to Feb. 23 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 21, 2020
As part of the HOOPS project, Milwaukeeans are invited to a hoops portrait session at the LUNA pop-up store and studio. (Photo by Nicole Acosta)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some events that can enrich your weekend. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon .
1. Total wellness health fair: Saturday, Feb. 22
The Sherman Phoenix, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., is hosting a total wellness health fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. The fair is promoting financial, physical and mental health. The event is free. Services include breast cancer and prostate cancer screenings, 2020 voting services, energy assistance, VITA tax service and more.
2. College readiness day at Latino Arts: Saturday, Feb. 22
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Latino/a Higher Education Network is hosting a free College Readiness Day for high school students. College Readiness Day will be hosted at Latino Arts, 1028 S. 9th St., from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. The event will cover everything students need to know about getting ready for college from admissions to financial aid/scholarships. Marquette University, UW-Milwaukee, MATC and Carroll University will be there to help students apply. Students should bring their high school transcripts.
3. Leaders Igniting Transformation C-Space: Saturday, Feb. 22
Leaders Igniting Transformation is hosting a C-Space event for black and brown artists. The event will take place at the Leaders Igniting Transformation offices, 2201 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. This is a networking event and an opportunity to learn about creative projects as well as an opportunity to offer input on the C-Space logo. To register, click here.
4. HOOPS portrait session: Saturday, Feb. 22
Last year, LUNA displayed a gallery of local Milwaukeeans proudly wearing their hoop earrings. The HOOPS project is continuing into 2020. There will be a free portrait session at the LUNA pop-up store and studio, 1037 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive, from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. The event is open to the community. Those interested in having their portrait taken should wear a black top, jeans or dark bottoms, accessories (if they choose) and hoop earrings.
5. Candlelight hike on the Hank Aaron State Trail: Saturday, Feb. 22
The Urban Ecology Center and Friends of Hank Aaron are hosting a candlelight hike on the Hank Aaron State Trail from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. The hike is two miles long and will go through Three Bridges Park. There will be hot chocolate and other winter activities. For the full list, click here.

created: February 21, 2020

author: Ana Martinez-Ortiz


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 20, 2020


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Leaders continue push for alternatives to youth incarceration | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Sam Woods
February 21, 2020
Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls will likely stay open beyond the current July 2021 deadline. (Photo provided by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections)
Although the closure of the state’s two youth prisons remains in question, Milwaukee leaders say their focus continues to be on finding alternatives to youth incarceration.
Last week the Joint Finance Committee voted not to fund two state-run youth prison facilities, one of which would have been located in Milwaukee County. This makes it unlikely that Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls will be closed by the July 2021 deadline.
Mary Jo Meyers, director of Milwaukee County’s Department of Health and Human Services, called the news disappointing.
“On the surface, it definitely changes our plans because it forces us to go back to the drawing board again,” she said. “But we’ve been working actively to reduce the number of kids going to secure facilities and to see how the kids we have there can be brought back sooner. So from the perspective of our programming, that all will continue to happen.”
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Passed in 2018, Act 185 ordered the closure of Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, replacing them with smaller regional facilities run by local counties and the state and expanding Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center in Madison. Originally, Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake were to close in January 2021, but that deadline was later changed to July 2021.
Act 185 only authorizes funding for construction of new prison facilities. It does not include any funding for the alternatives to incarceration that the county wants to implement.
Youth Justice Milwaukee, an advocacy organization, has also stressed the importance of funding programming instead of constructing new facilities. Sharlen Moore, its executive director said her organization is focused on keeping young people out of the incarceration system altogether.
“We’re looking to decrease the footprint of incarceration in Wisconsin,” Moore said. “We’re not here to build prisons, we’re here to support young people.”
Meanwhile, the county is continuing to focus on its “continuum of care” model, which favors integrating young people back into the Milwaukee community through a series of specialized programs. The model, based on other systems used across the nation, is designed to limit the amount of time youth spend in prison and to connect them with mentors and resources.
That model, and the work on-the-ground in Milwaukee, isn’t changing much in the near future, said Dawn Barnett, co-executive director at Running Rebels, a community organization that partners with the county to work with young people involved in the justice system.
“The issue with what’s happening with Act 185 is that it’s all talk right now. Our focus is doing everything we can for the young people in our care every single day,” she said.

author: Sam Woods


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Post from Community: North Shore Bank to host series of free, bilingual seminars on financial goals | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
North Shore Bank
February 23, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
North Shore Bank today announced that it will host a series of free seminars for people looking to take control of their finances and learn steps needed to reach financial goals. The seminars, which are open to the public, will be held in the community room at the North Shore Bank Jackson Park office (4230 W. Oklahoma Ave). There will be six seminars that will be presented in both English and Spanish, and four seminars that will be presented in only Spanish.
“As a community bank, we feel it is our responsibility to understand the challenges and goals of our customers,” said Alfredo Martin, branch manager at North Shore Bank. “Hosting these free financial seminars is our way of supporting and empowering our communities so they may have the tools to support themselves financially.”
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The seminar schedule is as follows:
Home Buying Resources – Learn about grants, loans, home ownership and more.
Real Estate Basics – Information presented by Virgil Maldonado of Blue Arrow Realty, LLC and the Latino Entrepreneurial Network.
Home Lending – North Shore Bank’s Mortgage Loan Professionals will share home lending options and insights.
Understanding & Managing Personal Credit – Join us and the Latino Entrepreneurial Network to learn the basics of personal credit and what it means to you. Spanish-only seminar.
Credit and Budgeting – Discover easy ways to establish credit and which budgeting tools are available to you.
How to Apply for a Loan & Credit Cards – We will be joined by the Latino Entrepreneurial Network to find out what you need to know to make applying easy.
Introduction to Electronic Banking – See how the latest tools can help make your banking transactions even easier and save you time. Spanish-only seminar.
Managing Your Bank Accounts – We will take a closer look at your accounts and offer you tips to help you better manage your money. Spanish-only seminar.
Financial Goals – Let’s talk about the steps you can take to meet your goals.
The Importance of Saving – We will be joined by the Latino Entrepreneurial Network to learn why it’s important to set aside money in a savings account. Spanish-only seminar.
All seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP by calling Alfredo Martin at 414-327-2000 or email him at amartin@northshorebank.com.
North Shore Bank, headquartered in Brookfield, has assets of $2 billion and 44 offices throughout eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Wisconsin locations are in metro Milwaukee, Ozaukee County, Racine, Kenosha, Appleton, Menasha, Green Bay and surrounding areas, Burlington, Union Grove, Muskego, and Door County. . You can also connect with the bank on LinkedIn, , , , and .

created: February 23, 2020

author: North Shore Bank


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5 things to know this week in Milwaukee: Feb. 24 to Feb. 29 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 24, 2020
Capita Productions presents “We are the drum,” a celebration of African American heritage, history and culture,” at Marshall High School this Saturday, Feb. 29. (Photo provided by We are the drum)
It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some events we think you shouldn’t miss. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email info@milwaukeenns.org and put “5 things” in the subject line by .
1. “Grrrl Justice” screening: Monday, Feb. 24
The UWM Union Cinema, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd. Room 363, is hosting a free and public screening of “Grrrl Justice” from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24. The film explores the impact of family violence, racism, poverty, sexual abuse and homophobia as it follows the lives of three characters.
2. Free flu shot clinic: Tuesday, Feb. 25
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The flu continues to run rampant through Milwaukee, but there’s still a chance to get the flu shot. The City of Milwaukee Health Department, UWM Partners for Health and Norris Health Center are offering free flu shots while supplies last. The shots are being offered at the UWM Union Ballroom, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25.  ‘It wouldn’t go away’: The flu is menacing Milwaukee. Here’s how you can fight back.
3. African American brewing history talk: Wednesday, Feb. 26
John Harry, a beer historian, will discuss diversity in brewing and the role of Peoples Brewing. The talk will take place at Vennture Brew Co, 5519 W. North Ave., from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The event is free, and beer and coffee will be available for purchase.
During Black History Month, Chrishella Roche has been featuring local black authors during her “It’s Lit! Author Meet & Greet” events. Clarene Mitchell, author of “Shine Online with LinkedIn” will be at Vibez Creative Arts Space, 3536 W. Fond du Lac Ave., from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. Mitchell will be interviewed about her process followed by a Q&A.
5. “We are the drum” performance: Saturday, Feb. 29
Capita Productions presents “We are the drum,” a celebration of African American heritage, history and culture. The show includes singing and dancing and will take place at Marshall High School, 4141 N. 64th St. There will be a performance at 3 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29. Tickets cost $15 at the door and $10 online.
The Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee and the Democratic National Convention Committee is hosting three community conversations on Tuesday, Feb. 25, Wednesday Feb. 26 and Thursday, Feb. 27 to provide updates about the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The meetings will help ensure community members throughout the city have the latest information about planning and opportunities to engage with the convention.
At each community conversation, the Host Committee and DNCC will provide updates related to volunteering for the convention, taking advantage of business-related opportunities, and what residents and businesses might expect in terms of moving around the city during convention week. Staff members will also be onsite to help attendees register to volunteer by creating their accounts on the new Milwaukee 2020 Volunteer Portal.
The Host Committee and DNCC are asking all those who plan to attend to RSVP.
The 2020 Democratic National Convention Community Conversations will take place:
In case you missed it: Can Milwaukee’s communities of color cash in on the Democratic National Convention?
In case you missed it: OPINION: Here’s how Milwaukee can truly benefit from the Democratic National Convention. (Hint: It’s not by bringing more big conventions downtown.)

created: February 24, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 23, 2020


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OPINION: ‘Food insecurity’ doesn’t affect just “them,” it affects us all | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Olivia Kiefer
February 24, 2020
(File photo by Molly Rippinger)
Editor’s note: Have something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Olivia Kiefer, a student at Marquette University, writes about food insecurity and its impact in Milwaukee.
Imagine a country where 11% of all households are food insecure and one in seven children don’t know where their next meal will come from. Are you picturing a developing country? The kind of country shown on UNICEF commercials? Unfortunately, these statistics represent none other than the United States of America.
Food insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Volunteering through Midnight Run at Marquette University has allowed me to serve and connect with those who are currently food insecure in Milwaukee. Midnight Run is a service organization on Marquette’s campus focused on serving and walking with those who are hungry and homeless in the Milwaukee area. By doing this service we strive to create men and women for and of change. This experience has made me realize that food insecurity affects everyone, not just those partaking in the meal, and should be recognized as a societal issue.
The history of the United States is littered with socioeconomic inequities. As urban areas arose across the nation so did social classes. In “The Right to the City,” David Harvey writes about how the quality of life in urban areas had become a commodity. He states, “the formation of market niches…surrounds the contemporary urban experience with an aura of freedom of choice, provided you have the money.”
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This division held deeper consequences as cities expanded. According to Harvey, expansion consisted of building new urban areas on top of the rubble of the old. The “old” nearly always refers to areas inhabiting “the poor, the underprivileged and those marginalized from political power.” Marginalized groups of people have been repeatedly forced into and out of urban spaces as they continue to develop.
This cycle has yet to be broken. Rayna Andrews, the senior director of community engagement for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, argues, “We [society] currently treat food insecurity as if it’s an individual’s problem rather than a societal issue.” According to Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” project, the national average of food insecure citizens is 13% but for Milwaukee County the rate is 15%.
To address this high percentage, the Hunger Task Force was established in 1974. Hunger Task Force defines itself as an “independent anti-hunger organization created in Milwaukee to serve Milwaukee.” It provides food to local pantries and meal programs while also advocating for policy change. The Hunger Task Force provides for the 27.4% of people currently living below the poverty line in the City of Milwaukee.
Food insecurity greatly affects those living below the poverty line, but other populations are not excluded. In 2018, Marquette University surveyed currently enrolled students to assess food insecurity on campus. The responses determined that 21.3% of currently enrolled students were food insecure. Food insecurity is fueled by the presence of food deserts: a geographic area with a lack of access to affordable, healthy food options due to distance. Although Sendik’s Fresh2Go is now on Marquette’s campus, Marquette students still have limited access to affordable and nutritional food. Therefore a group of students and faculty have created a backpack program. This is a confidential, free program that provides groceries and personal hygiene products to Marquette students who are food insecure. Program representatives state that roughly 30 students use the service a week while even more are on the waiting list.
Anyone at any time can become a victim of food insecurity. Addressing food insecurity starts with simple acknowledgement of the issue. It must be understood that this is not a problem solely affecting the homeless population, as it is often believed. I suggest volunteering independently or donating food to do your part in ending food insecurity.

author: Olivia Kiefer


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OPINION: To “solve hunger,” we must acknowledge our system is broken and our problems are complex | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rayna Andrews
February 24, 2020
The food pantry at Ebenezer Church of God in Christ. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Rayna Andrews is senior director of community impact at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. She writes about the systemic inequities that cause disproportionate rates of food insecurity for people of color and how educational efforts help move toward a solution.
Anyone can experience hunger. What I’ve come to learn working in the space of food security as the Senior Director of Community Impact for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is that some groups are more vulnerable than others. According to the USDA, 21.2% of African American households and 16.2% of Hispanic households are food insecure, both of which are higher than the national average of 11.1%. Food insecurity is a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
Why are minorities predominately the populations that are affected by hunger? The higher rates are direct results of systemic inequity through racial and gender discrimination. The average wealth of white families is thirteen times higher than that of black families. The wealth gap plays a huge role in creating food insecurity. Systemic racism reinforces the wealth gap between minorities and whites and is expressed through social and political institutions.
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As a part of my community engagement efforts, I collaborate with other anti-poverty organizations to facilitate a Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation to help people understand the connections among racial equity, hunger, poverty and wealth. It is a good first step for people unaware of structural inequality, a support tool for those who want a deeper understanding of structural inequality and a source of information for experts who want to know the quantifiable economic impact of each policy that has widened today’s racial, hunger, income and wealth divides.
Conversations about race and inequity can be challenging and is often a barrier to engaging in dialgoue. Yet these conversations are essential. This simulation helps break down some of those barriers. It focuses on policies, helping to debunk the idea that racial inequality is only about individual attitudes. As participants become more aware of structural levels of inequality, it will be easier to see how they can support policies that undo or reduce disparities. In addition, the simulation calls for participants to randomly select cards that assign them a racial identity that may be different from their own. This can help people feel slightly removed from their own personal experiences and see the role of policy.
If this article piqued your curiosity and you’re interested in learning more about the effects of the racial wealth gap and proposed policies for corrective action, please join me on  at the Whitefish Bay Public Library, 5420 N. Marlborough Dr., Whitefish Bay. This event is hosted by Bay Bridge Wisconsin and is free and open to the public. Please reserve your seat here.
In order for us to “solve hunger,” as food bankers like to say, we must start acknowledging that our system is broken, and our problems are more complex. Ending hunger and poor nutrition in Wisconsin and the United States calls for comprehensive strategies that promote racial, gender and class equity and take into account the many differences in personal, family and community circumstances. Giving our problems a name is only the first step in addressing systemic change.

author: Rayna Andrews


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Post from Community: Heal the Hood MKE Founder releasing two children’s books | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rashidah Butler-Jackson
February 24, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Ajamou Butler, better known as Brotha Heal the Hood (HTH), is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His desire to heal the city is fueled by creating a better place for his son to grow up in. As a young activist, Ajamou is able to relate to the struggle of the youth and speak their language. His passion for people is unparalleled and he uses the power of communication to ignite hope, healing, action, and change! One of his greatest accomplishments in life has been the founding of Heal the Hood MKE in 2012.
“Destined To Be Me” is a children’s book that combines poetry, confidence building, and relatable content for Black children everywhere. Your child is sure to see images that represent themselves in each page of this book. Each poem was written with the intent to connect with the realities of Black boys/girls and give them an opportunity to tap into the World of poetry and spoken word as well as learn new vocabulary. Reading this book with your child creates a bonding opportunity and gives them an outlet to express their thoughts, ask questions, and ponder about their bright future. Your child will have fun and build skills sets as they memorize the poems and practice reciting them with pride in front of others. Your child will want to pull this book off the shelves again and again and the messages will remain relevant for many years to come.
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Pre-Sales available NOW at AjamouButler.Com
Please contact Ajamou directly with any questions at AjamouButler@gmail.com.

author: Rashidah Butler-Jackson


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Destined-To-Be-Me-for-Boys.jpg | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Name *
February 24, 2020


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Reporter’s Notebook: Community engagement goes both ways: Introducing Ana Martinez-Ortiz | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
February 24, 2020
Hi, my name is Ana Martinez-Ortiz, and I am the community engagement reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. I’ve been at NNS since August 2018, but my role as the community engagement reporter began in the summer of 2019.
Community engagement can be defined many ways depending on the organization. Here at NNS we view community engagement not only as a way to interact with the neighborhoods we cover but also as a method of service.
“Service” means providing the information and the resources community members need to survive and thrive. The community engagement team offers information through how-to articles, resource lists, five things to know and do for the week/weekend, vignettes and explainer articles.
Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting? Take our survey to let us know how we're doing!
As the community engagement reporter, my job each week includes cultivating five things to know and do for the week and weekend, writing how-to articles, posting in Posts from the Community and engaging with community members. The community engagement team also meets once a week to brainstorm new how-to topics and how to better engage with the community.
Last summer, for example, we set up a living room set complete with a sofa and lamps at various concerts and festivals throughout Milwaukee. Families and friends received a family style portrait and polaroid for subscribing to our newsletter.
Community engagement goes both ways. There are multiple ways for community members to engage with the NNS team, the community and me.
Each Monday and Friday, 5 Things to know and do for the week and weekend is published. If you want your event considered, send me an email at amartinez-ortiz@milwaukeenns.org with the subject line “5 Things.” Please get this to us at least four weeks before your event for optimum consideration. This goes for how-to ideas as well.
2.
“Community Voices” is a platform for community members to express their opinion on topics of interest that relate to Milwaukee and the neighborhoods we cover. Pieces should be between 500-800 words long and can be submitted to info@milwaukeenns.org.
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Posts from the Community is the place for organizations to submit news releases, short articles and photos regarding their events and issues. You can post directly to the site by clicking here.
Check out the NNS Facebook Page. We post regularly and it’s a great way to see an article or video you may have missed or to watch us do a Facebook Live. We are the only newsroom in the city that regularly posts articles from other media if we think our readers will be interested. It’s not about NNS. But it is all about you.
Whenever we compile lists of resources, I always mention our listing may not reflect all of the resources available for that particular issue or topic. If I’m missing something, post it in the comments. Same goes for Facebook. When we pose a question, make sure to comment or share the article. The community engagement team wants to know things, it’s why we ask.
As the community engagement reporter, I look forward to engaging with all of you. I hope you feel the same.
In case you missed it: Proceeding until apprehended: Inside the NNS newsroom


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Two to know: New jobs, but same mission for Tyler Weber and Maysee Herr | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ryan Gonzalez
February 25, 2020
Editor’s note: Milwaukee is filled with many ordinary people who do extraordinary things. This year, from time to time, NNS will briefly highlight individuals who are helping our community. To nominate your neighbor, please send an email to info@milwaukeenns.org and put “Two to know” in the subject line.
Tyler Weber spent nine years at Walnut Way Conservation Corp. before becoming senior public health strategist for the Washington-Ozaukee Public Health Department. (Photo by Ryan Gonzalez)
Name: Tyler Weber
Why he’s worth knowing: After nearly nine years of working at Walnut Way Conservation Corp., a nonprofit organization in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood, Weber left in November to work for Washington-Ozaukee Public Health Department as a senior public health strategist.
What he says about leaving Walnut Way: “This has become more than just a work relationship . . . A lot of this has been centered on work, but it’s become so much more than that over so long. It’s more than just moving on from a job. So, I’ve been telling people, ‘it’s not a goodbye, it’s a see you soon.’”
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What others have to say: “It’s been very inspiring and very fulfilling from the perspective of working with someone with a high level of professionalism and efficacy and commitment to learning and growth, taking on challenges and things like that . . . A lot of who he is will still exist in processes and systems and the spirit of the work, too,” said Antonio Butts, executive director of Walnut Way.
What he’ll miss most: “Hands down just the people. Regardless of the mission of the organization, it’s simply people driving it, and so you’re only as good as your partner and your team members and those make and break everything.”
About Walnut Way: Founded in 2000, Walnut Way is a nonprofit organization created for and by the people of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. It provides services such as wellness courses, summer teen internship programs and more to help cultivate and grow the community.
What’s next: I’m “going from 110 square blocks to working across two counties. I think it’s going to be a little bit of a change but I’m excited to continue living here in Milwaukee and stay connected to the neighborhood.”
Maysee Herr looks forward to her new role as executive director at the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce. (Photo of Herr provided by Maysee Herr)
Name: Maysee Herr
Why she’s worth knowing: Herr is the new executive director of the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, or HWCC. When she’s not overseeing her staff, she’s busy building relationships with those in the community all over the state.
What she says: “Our clients certainly aren’t just necessarily Hmong or Southeast Asian; we’re really focused on looking at ways in which we can help anyone who’s looking to directly or indirectly serve historically underserved individuals and communities.”
What she says about joining HWCC: “I was living in Kansas City and I still have some strong connections to the state of Wisconsin and people who have wanted me to consider coming back to the state . . . So when the position became open and people had heard that I was looking at another opportunity,” they encouraged me to apply. “After some thinking about it, I decided it was worth applying for, and it could be a new exciting role for me.”
What she loves about her job: “I love building relationships. I love the people I get to meet every day and to work with. It sounds cliché, but it’s so true: You will often hear that when you love your job, you love what it is you do and the purpose of the work that you do, it doesn’t really feel like work.”
What others say: “The reasons we chose Maysee was that she brought a wealth of knowledge in nonprofits, education and sustainability for organizations. We fully have confidence in her and her great leadership skills to develop programs, create lasting partnerships, and continue to champion HWCC across the state in our efforts to take the chamber to the next level of excellence,” said Patrick Martin, who serves as co-chairman of the Board of Directors at HWCC.
What’s next: “Hopefully, we can help to build more businesses all over the state. That is certainly a goal that I have this year: to deploy even more loans than we ever have in the past so that we can make people’s dreams come true.”

created: February 25, 2020

author: Ryan Gonzalez


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 24, 2020


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When art imitates life: Milwaukee youths pay homage to their heroes | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
February 25, 2020
Young artists from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee are celebrating Black History Month by expressing their creativity and paying homage to their heroes.
Students created artworks of influential African Americans, including historical figures, world leaders, athletes and celebrities. This is the fourth annual Black History Month Art Contest sponsored by U.S. Cellular.
Finalists were picked based on creativity, quality, interpretation, clarity of theme and overall impression. The students’ artworks have been displayed in local U.S. Cellular stores throughout the month, allowing community members the opportunity to vote on their favorite.
The top three vote-getters will be announced in March and receive cash prizes of $250 for 1 Place, $150 for 2 place and $100 for 3 place.
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author: Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service


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BREAKING: Milwaukee Police Association files ethics complaint against Fire and Police Commission Chairman Steven DeVougas | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 26, 2020
“I’ve already talked to the Ethics Board about all these issues. The stuff they’re alleging has already been dealt with, and we have an understanding,” Fire and Police Commission Chairman Steven DeVougas tells NNS. (Photo courtesy of TMJ4)
The president of the Milwaukee Police Association has filed a complaint with the City of Milwaukee Ethics Board that alleges several violations by Fire and Police Commission Chairman Steven DeVougas.
The allegations are related to DeVougas’ representation of prominent Milwaukee developer Kalan Haywood Sr., who has been accused of sexual assault and questioned by the Milwaukee Police Department but not charged.
In a leaked video, Haywood Sr. is shown being questioned by Milwaukee police at the Sojourner Family Peace Center without the knowledge of the center’s executive director.
He was accompanied by DeVougas. Haywood Sr., who has denied the sexual assault allegations, is the founder of the Haywood Group, a prominent real estate development, investment and consulting firm that has received millions of dollars in loans other support from the city.
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“As DeVougas has authority over the entire MPD, his mere presence/involvement in an MPD criminal investigation presents a clear conflict of interest. DeVougas’ representation of Haywood appears to have been done to influence/intimidate MPD investigators and to provide his client with a benefit the average person could not get,” read part of the complaint filed Tuesday by Dale Boorman Jr., president of the Milwaukee Police Association. The Milwaukee Police Association has publicly called for the resignation or removal of DeVougas as commissioner.
The complaint comes less than three weeks after DeVougas and other members of the FPC approved an independent investigation to look into the leak of information related to the Haywood case.
On Wednesday, DeVougas told the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service that he requested an advisory opinion from the Ethics Board regarding the allegations and met with board members Friday.
“I’ve already talked to the Ethics Board about all these issues. The stuff they’re alleging has already been dealt with, and we have an understanding,” he said. DeVougas also referred to a memo from the City Attorney’s Office regarding the issue.
“The FPC rules do not address commissioner conflicts of interest, nor do they contain standards of conduct for commissioners. In short, there is no FPC rule of which we are aware that Mr. DeVougas could have violated,” read part of the memo.
The City Attorney’s Office referred the issue to the state’s Office of Lawyer Regulation, which decided against opening a formal investigation.
In early February, the FPC approved a resolution to create ethical rules and a code of conduct, largely because of the Haywood controversy.
That leak of the video drew harsh criticism from Mayor Tom Barrett, Sen. Lena Taylor, members of the Common Council and others. They condemned the fact that the interview took place at a location that serves exploited women, and that sensitive information about an alleged sexual assault was released.
DeVougas, a lawyer, said he has contracts with the Haywood Group and many other clients through his real-estate firm.
“I don’t know what the Milwaukee Police Association’s problem with me is but I would love to have a conversation with them. [The MPA] is just looking for something for any reason to come at me when they have their own issues,” DeVougas said Wednesday.
The Fire and Police Commission is holding a special meeting on Thursday, Feb. 27 to select an independent investigator to review the case against the MPD. The meeting will take place at City Hall in Room 301-B at 5:30 p.m. DeVougas has recused himself from being involved in that meeting and the investigation into the MPD.

created: February 26, 2020


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 26, 2020


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From victim to advocate: Natalie Hayden’s triumph over domestic violence | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Edgar Mendez
February 26, 2020
Natalie Hayden (left) at an event with Carmen Pitre, executive director of Sojourner Family Peace Center. (Photo provided by Natalie Hayden)
Natalie Hayden, 38, is now living her best life.
Isolated and physically and mentally abused for nine years by a man she said she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with, she was finally able to break free from her former husband’s grip.
“I cried so hard. Tears of pain and tears of joy,” said Hayden, recalling the day she entered the shelter at Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee.
She was greeted with a welcome basket that held a box of chocolates and a warm Snuggie. It felt like she was arriving at a hotel, she said. She talks about how seemingly little things, like being able to park in an underground garage, made her feel safe. And how advocates and others at Sojourner formed a cocoon around her, giving her a space to begin to heal.
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“Even when I was in the shelter I was free and I was happy.”
Hayden’s experiences carry added significance as the community continues to grapple with the deaths of Amarah “Jerica” Banks, 26, and her daughters Zaniya R. Ivery, 5, and Camaria Banks, 4, who were killed Feb. 8 in what appears to be a case of domestic violence.
When Hayden looks back at the years of abuse and wonders why she endured it, she can think of several reasons.
Like many other victims of intimate partner physical violence, a crime that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced, according to data from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, she held onto the romanticized memories of a man who always told her things would be better. Sometimes they were.
She had other reasons, too.
“He was controlling and manipulative and always took shots at my self-esteem,” Hayden said. “My security always felt jeopardized, but I stayed because I didn’t want to be a single mother.”
With her confidence shaken, she didn’t know if  she was strong enough to raise a child alone and worried about being harmed or worse yet killed, or that her daughter could be kidnapped.
“We have to understand how much courage it takes to get out of an abusive relationship,” said Carmen Pitre, executive director of Sojourner Family Peace Center.
When women, such as Hayden, arrive at the center, they are given three messages.
“It’s not your fault, you are not alone, and we are here to help,” Pitre said.
Hayden stayed at Sojourner for eight months, and while she was there, she received free legal support and filed for divorce and custody of her daughter.
There have been setbacks along the way. Her ex-husband went to trial and was acquitted of all charges related to domestic abuse.
“He was let off entirely,” she said.
Kent Lovern, Milwaukee County chief deputy district attorney, said about half of all domestic violence cases in the county that go to trial end in acquittals.
Still, Hayden vowed to move on and not let her disappointment in the justice system deter her from her next goals. And it hasn’t.
Hayden has continued her transition from victim to advocate. She sits on Sojourner Family and Peace Center’s Voices Advisory Board, co-hosts ExPOSED, a podcast that features discussion on domestic violence issues, and serves as the vice chairwoman of the city’s Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
“Being a community advocate and helping others, especially victims of abuse, is my life’s work and my purpose,” said Hayden, whose daughter is now 8 years old.
She speaks to women, who like her, arrive at Sojourner battered, tired or worse. She offers words of advice for women caught in the dangerous cycle of domestic abuse.
“As a woman, you have the power to change your life,” she said.
Self-care and self-love can help victims heal, prevent them from being abused again and help them see a light at the end of the tunnel, Hayden said.
“Life after abuse can be amazing,” said Hayden, as a smile grows across her face.
In case you missed it: ‘Far too common’: Tragedy is latest example of how cases of domestic violence continue to plague Milwaukee
In case you missed it: Places in Milwaukee where you can find help for domestic violence
In case you missed it: ‘This is how I am going to die’: How one domestic abuse survivor lived to tell her story


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| Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 25, 2020


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OPINION: Black history every Milwaukeean should know | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Donte McFadden, Supreme Moore Omokunde & Marjorie Rucker
February 26, 2020
Editor’s note: Got something on your mind? “Community Voices” is the place to let Milwaukee hear what you have to say. To be considered, we need your name, email address and phone number for verification. Please email your submissions to info@milwaukeenns.org.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct where Michael Schultz went to school.
As Black History Month comes to a close, three Milwaukee leaders list people and places they feel every resident should know.
Donte McFadden
Donte McFadden, co-founder Black Lens film series:
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A person that all Milwaukeeans should know is Michael Schultz. While some people are familiar with him and his films (“Cooley High,” “Car Wash,” “Which Way Is Up?” “Krush Groove”), few know that he is a Milwaukee native and attended University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He is important to know because he is an example of the talent that emerges from Milwaukee and an example of someone who goes on to a successful career in the entertainment industry. Similar people include writer/director Eric Haywood, director Rubin Whitmore II, editor Terilyn Shropshire and writer Michael Starrburry.
Supreme Moore Omokunde
Supreme Moore Omokunde, 10th District Milwaukee County supervisor:
Baba Reuben Harpole, who grew up in Bronzeville, is an important man to know when it comes to the history of black Milwaukee. He is a walking encyclopedia of “who is who” and “what is what” and has worked with many of our local historic black publications.
Every Milwaukeean should read Dr. James Cameron’s “A Time of Terror.” In this book, he discusses his escape from a lynch mob after he and his friends were falsely accused of assaulting a white woman. This took place in Marion, Indiana, which notably, is not the South.
St. Boniface and its role in the activities of the Open Housing Marches is critical local history. It was here where Father James Groppi served and led. Milwaukee’s marches directly informed the Fair Housing Act of 1968 that was signed into federal law after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Marjorie Rucker
Marjorie Rucker, executive director of The Business Council:
A critical staple that all Milwaukeeans should know is Glorious Malone’s Fine Sausage. For almost 40 years, this African American-owned business has produced headcheese, also known as souse, sultz or hog’s head cheese. Operating out of a 12,000 square foot facility at 300 W. Walnut St. in the Historic King Drive BID, their recipe is a true Southern delicacy.
What makes this business and story exceptional is that Glorious and George Malone are one of the few black Milwaukee families that strived not only to provide for their family, but thrived in creating generational wealth and a legacy that will last. Glorious Malone wasn’t raised with a silver spoon in her mouth — she was born and raised in Hammond, Louisiana as part of a large family. In her teens, Glorious moved to Milwaukee to be with her father, Sterling Williams, who was one of the city’s first black barbers.
All of the Malone children have worked in the sausage business and continue to make strategic investments of time, money and property acquisition locally, not just for profit, but for the betterment of the community. I have watched Daphne Jones and her family move throughout Milwaukee, pursuing their dreams and passions in a way that make good “soul” and business sense. They are always kind, engaging and present when you meet or run into one of them of the street.
Throughout my years of working in community and economic development in the city of Milwaukee, I can say that this is the type of knowledge that black people should know, teach and practice within their families and within our community. You do not necessarily need a college degree to be a successful entrepreneur, but you do need to learn a set of business skills and develop grit that would impress Jeff Bezos.


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donte | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
February 25, 2020


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Milwaukee County provides support for people affected by gun violence, including a 24-Hour Crisis Line and Mobile Crisis Teams | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services
February 27, 2020
Editor’s note: Our Posts from Community feature is a platform for community announcements and event postings. If you have a post to be considered, send it to info@milwaukeenns.org or submit it directly.
Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division (BHD) offers trauma-informed care for survivors of gun violence. Individuals in need of support are encouraged to call Milwaukee County’s 24-Hour Crisis Line at 414-257-7222. Clinicians will offer support and guidance and connect callers to available resources. People can also call 2-1-1 directly for assistance. IMPACT 2-1-1 provides a coordinated entry point for those in need. During times of personal crisis or community disaster, the free, confidential helpline and online resource directory make it easy for residents to get connected to information and assistance.
“Milwaukee County has resources available for residents that find it difficult to access local health care facilities or mental health services to treat psychological impacts of gun violence,” said Chris Abele, Milwaukee County Executive. “Our Mobile Crisis staff will come to you. Please know there is help available. I encourage everyone to seek help for themselves, friends and family members.”
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Milwaukee County’s Behavioral Health staff is on-call to respond immediately to crisis situations, including the Trauma Response Team, Mobile Crisis Team, and the Crisis Assessment Response Team (CART). Crisis programs and services are built on countywide partnerships developed to improve emergency response to crisis situations. Collaboration is critical to provide the needed support to individuals. Milwaukee County DHHS Behavioral Health partners with organizations such as the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, Salvation Army, Red Cross, and local law enforcement to ensure people’s needs are being addressed.
“Partnerships are critical to providing comprehensive support in a crisis situation,” said Mary Jo Meyers, Director, Department of Health and Human Services. “We are fortunate to have strong community partnerships. To fully meet the needs of those impacted by tragedy and trauma, we need to garner our collective strength.”
About the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services
The mission of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services is to enhance the quality of life for individuals who need support living healthy, independent, and safe lives within our community. Our vision is to be recognized as the public model of excellence, leadership, and partnership in human services driving superior outcomes for our community.
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created: February 27, 2020