There are a couple different ways to think about Summer in Milwaukee. As the celebratory City of Festivals … and as a city, like so many other American cities, that spends the Summer months dealing with an increase in violent crime and the consequences of high school drop-out rates and lack of employment opportunities, like teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and high incarceration rates.
This dichotomy is felt perhaps most acutely by at-risk Milwaukee youth.
This summer, we wanted to spend time with some members of this group, and learn how they navigate this tricky time in their life. We chose six Milwaukee teens, once considered at-risk, all of them now 2009 high school grads with college plans in the Fall. Each was nominated for participation in the series by a Milwaukee organization that works with at-risk Milwaukee youth.
Our profiles will be told in three parts, as we check in with them throughout the summer. In June, an introduction; in July, a look at how and where they’re spending the long summer days; and in August, as they prepare for the next stage in their life.
Below, our Summer 2009 “First Summer of the Rest of Your Life” subjects, their high school, and the organization that nominated them:
Listen: When I left my interview with Sylvester Stewart, my head was spinning. His experiences, and what he’s learned from them, are exceptional. There’s not too much I can add up front, so please, listen:
Aside from his contemplative side, there’s another side to Sylvester — his nickname, Sly, is a totally different persona. This is a short piece I put together from our interview that shows his Sly side:
This summer, Sylvester will be hitting the gym, bulking up to play football at UW-Whitewater. Next month, we’ll see how his summer is getting along.
Listen: In this piece, you’ll hear Calvin Washington talk about his version of family. For him, his family extends into his entire network of friends around the neighborhood. It also just so happens that his family is very present around the house — during our interview at his kitchen table, there was a constant stream of people (not to mention a dog that you might be able to hear at a few points) flowing in and out. In fact, we even had a few audience members set up at chairs in the kitchen, soaking in our interview.
You may have noticed that we’ve given each of our 09′ grads a nickname at the beginning of their piece. Past titles include The Crime Scene Investigator, The Nose Tackle, and The Very Special Extraordinary Person. What’s the newest handle? The Coolest Person Ever. Calvin said it, not me (in fact, he said it a few times). But, you can be the judge:
We’ll check back with Calvin in a month, to see how his family’s doing, and to see how he’s preparing for college.
Listen: For many youth, mentorship programs provide them an extra boost or nudge in the right direction. However, for some, an organization can make all the difference in the world, acting as a support system or even a family. For LaQuita Grinnage, the Sista Pride initiative at the Boys And Girls Club did just that. Take a listen:
For more information on Sista Pride initiative with Boys And Girls Club and all the agencies involved in our First Summer Of The Rest Of Your Life campaign, follow this link. Also, check out LaQuita’s amazing story.
Listen: Yesterday, at Manpower Inc.’s downtown headquarters along the Milwaukee river, 300 teens gathered to kick off the first day of the rest of their summer. They observed a short program, followed by an orientation session for the jobs they received from the Milwaukee City’s Earn and Learn Program. Some looked eager, some sleepy, some nervous, but all grateful to have a chance to have a job.
This year, Earn And Learn doubled last year’s total, providing 3000 teens summer jobs with the city government, community and faith-based organizations, as well as businesses in the private sector. For most, it’s an amazing opportunity to gain experience, make some money, and stay busy over the summer. Take a listen:
You can find more information on Earn and Learn Milwaukee at their website.
Listen: At first, I had difficulty describing the pieces we put together for campaigns like The First Summer of the Rest of Your Life. Where do they fit in the radio world? It’s not news reporting, they’re certainly not commercials, and they’re not quite rote human interest pieces. Currently, I think the pieces are best described as storytelling. When we’re most successful, we tell stories.
That’s what makes this piece on LaQuita so interesting to me. LaQuita has become a storyteller and the process of learning to tell her story has led to an incredible transformation. But don’t take my word for it — meet LaQuita Grinnage:
In July, we’re going to sit down a few days before the regional Youth of the Year competition and then again in the aftermath. Ah! Hold your breath and let’s hope LaQuita’s optimism translates into a victory! I know I’m rooting for her.
Listen: This past weekend, I had a chance to check out the Locust Street Festival in the late afternoon. As I walked around, I was blown away by the atmosphere — an incredible mix of race, age, and every other kind of diversity you’d want. Best of all, everybody seemed to be enjoying the music and the sun. I was proud that our station had a presence at the event as part of our Summer Passport campaign.
When I got home, I was horrified to hear that there was a shooting at the event after I left. While it was a contained act of violence, there were a huge number of folks in the area that could have potentially been injured. Like many others, this concerns me deeply. As we look forward to a season full of festivals, how will this effect we approach the summer? Events like the Locust Street Festival are what make me proud to be part of Milwaukee, so what can we learn from this incident?
Jordan, our AM Drive host, discussed the topic and took calls during his show:
Listen: Organizations like Sponsor A Scholar come into the lives of disadvantaged youth and give them an amazing opportunity to reach their goals. The tutoring, mentorship, and financial support they provide can make all the difference in the world in a young adult’s life. And as years pass, most students gain a deep understanding and appreciation for what the organization has done for them.
But what about first impressions? Most middle schoolers probably aren’t too focused on scholarships and their college prospects, so what do they really think?” Sponsor A Who? What do they want with me?” Terry Anzueto, Sponsor A Scholar Class of 09′ shares with us his early impressions of Sponsor A Scholar.
For volunteer opportunities with Sponsor A Scholar and all the agencies involved in our First Summer Of The Rest Of Your Life campaign, follow this link. Also, you can get to know Terry a little better a few posts below!
The Iconic East Side Water Tower - How Much Can We Get For It?
Listen: One of my least favorite slogans for Milwaukee: “A Great City On A Great Lake.” I could never figure out why it didn’t rub me the right way, but the recent discussion over water privatization in Milwaukee may have put the answer into focus — the slogan is too indefinite and impersonal. It’s not “Our Great City On Our Great Lake,” or even “A Great City On It’s Great Lake.” The wording implies it’s just a lake that we happen to border. And that’s it — I’ve always felt like Lake Michigan was ours.
In the recent weeks, the prospect of privatizing our waterworks has been a hot topic of conversation. Everyone agrees that we wouldn’t be exploring options like this if the budget weren’t in a dire state, but we need to squeeze out some cash from somewhere. Is selling our water to a corporation the quick fix we’re looking for? If not, where else can we turn?
On Monday, June 15th, a group of concerned citizens, organizations (including but not limited to Keep Public Our Water (KPOW) and Milwaukee Riverkeepers), and giant puppets gathered in front of City Hall to voice their opinions. Hear some of the voices from the rally:
The stands at UW-La Cross - where you can watch Terry play next year
Listen: The bike ride to 12th and Burnham was a familiar one — it’s those wide north-south streets between the main drag on Mitchell and my old friends, Kosciuszko Park and the Lincoln Village neighborhood. (Even though I’ve had occasion to write “Kosciuszko” at least a dozen times in the past few months, I’ve needed to look up the spelling every time. Yeesh.) I was there to interview Terry Anzueto, Riverside ‘09 grad, in the house where he’s lived his entire life.
I’m tempted to write more, but let’s allow him to do the talking — Terry Anzueto:
I can’t wait to connect with him again in July and catch up; Terry’s summer sounds like it will be a ton of fun. But of course, in line with his strong work ethic, he has a full time job as a lifeguard at the Kosciuszko pool, keeping kids safe and getting really tan.
Listen: I pulled up to Shequeda Jenkins’ block and reached towards my back pocket to check her exact address. But, as I glanced down the street, I knew exactly which house it was: streamers on the porch, signs on the lawn and in the garden, a big marquee across the front windows, all shouting out loud “Congratulations Grad, 2009!” No need to double check — that one must be her house.
I could tell you tons more about Shequeda, but she does a much better job. In our first of three pieces, we get a bit of background and a lot of personality — an introduction to Shequeda:
Shequeda and I first met at her house in Metcalfe Park, just an hour before she had to get to an awards ceremony with Pearls For Teen Girls. When I asked her about the event, she played it off like it wasn’t a big deal, “Oh, it’s just a thing they do at the end of the school year.” The thing is, I knew she was going to win the highest honor — Girl of the Year. So, during the entire interview I was squirming. I knew and she wanted to know! Of course, sitting in the front row at the ceremony, I was glad I didn’t ruin the announcement. Her genuine surprise and charmingly unprepared acceptance speech were priceless.
