“Be Heard”: Downtown Milwaukee Dreaming

Listen: Milwaukee’s downtown has so much going for it — the arts, great restaurants, beautiful buildings, and perhaps best of all, its potential. Milwaukee has never exactly been a downtown city, but the building blocks are all there. The City of Milwaukee is creating a plan for our downtown for the first time since 1999, and [...]

“Neighborhood Project”: Week Three, The School Sisters of Silver City

Listen: In conversations around Silver City, I’ve noticed a clear consensus — the neighborhood would look totally different without the School Sisters of St. Francis. Occupying an entire block, the SSSF not only have a massive physical presence in the area, but also serve their neighborhood with amazing devotion. They are true to their Franciscan mission. [...]

“Neighborhood Project”: Week Three, Fighting Block Busting In Sherman Park

Listen: For one reason or another, “blockbusting” came up in a number of conversations we had with folks around Sherman Park. This term was new to me, but I could immediately tell that it played an important role in Sherman Park’s history. As I’ve come to learn, blockbusting, a form of racial segregation through property manipulation, [...]

“Be Heard”: Drug Dealers Meet The Community

Listen: Earlier this month, the 4th Street Forum featured a discussion surrounding restorative  justice as a tool for combating school violence (listen to our piece on the topic here). The discussion, while touching on many concrete examples, understandably did not allow the audience to witness restorative justice in action. Yesterday, a modified version of the  restorative justice [...]

“Neighborhood Project”: Week Three, The Pioneers

Listen: I’ve come to realize that there will be no typical week in the Neighborhood Project. This week, I spoke with the amazing people who laid the foundation for what our four featured neighborhoods have become today. After each interview, I couldn’t wait to sit down at the editing desk to put the story together and [...]

Interview with Mayor Barrett

On Tuesday April 21st, I had the honor of inviting out own Mayor TOM BARRETT in the 88NINE studios for an interview.  We discussed our Milwaukee NEIGHBORHOODS PROJECT and what the city has on the table to give some of our beloved neighborhoods a boost.

One of the main topics we discussed was the Bronzeville Restoration [...]

“Neighborhood Project”: Week Three, Protecting Johnsons Park

 

Listen: I sat down in Mrs. Arlene Otis’ living room, unprepared for what was coming. She’s been in Johnsons Park for 51 years and seen the neighborhood come full circle. With little prompting, she launched into story after story about the neighborhood, each better than the last. The struggles and the triumphs, all told with vivid detail. [...]

“Be Heard”: 4th Street Forum | Child Care in Wisconsin

 

This week at the 4th Street Forum: Child Care in Wisconsin has unfortunately made headlines recently due to fraud and tragic neglect. With the public paying close attention, how can we pull positive solutions from the conversation? At this week’s 4th Street Forum, we hear from Rob Henken, President of the Public Policy Forum, Douglas Udell, Instructor [...]

“Be Heard”: Paid Sick Days Ordinance – Final Public Hearing

The Milwaukee Paid Sick Leave ordinance has been the subject of vigorous, if relatively unpublicized, debate since Milwaukee voters passed the ordinance last November.
Despite a temporary injunction granted by the Milwaukee County Circuit Court that delayed the implementation of the ordinance, Milwaukee’s Equal Rights Commission has drafted a set of rules for implementation, and has [...]

“Neighborhood Project”: Week Two, Silver City’s Silver Lining

Listen: We spent hours in Silver City, walking up and down National Avenue visiting businesses, chatting with folks at diners and on the basketball court, sitting down at dining room tables, and even knocking on a few doors. We asked, “Why do you live in Silver City?” and “Can you tell me about your neighbors?”
To [...]