COMMUNITY VOL. XXXIX Number 37 April 15, 2015
The Milwaukee
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Girls’ Day at City Hall stokes young Alderman Ashanti Hamilton womens’ interest in public service careers outlines need for “Safe Zone” initiative More than 150 young women with an interest in public service recently took advantage of the opportunity to meet and be inspired by a number of local leaders and role models during the fifth annual “Girls’ Day” at City Hall hosted by Ald. Milele A. Coggs (shown above, fifth from the left, with some of the participants). “The women who came together to act as role at this event are truly some of the best that Milwaukee has to offer,” Coggs said. “But to see them interact with and inspire the next generation of young women in public service is the most rewarding part of this great event.” Among the activities were two panel discussions on the journey to public service and the role of women in politics. An interactive workshop was also held focusing on leadership development. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
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Surrounded by members of a coalition of community organizations involved in the betterment of the city’s Black community, Ald. Ashanti Hamilton (shown above at the microphones) unveiled a “community organizing strategy” that will create “Safe Zones” that will operate in several neighborhoods of the central city plagued by crime, violence and disorder. During a news conference at Garden Homes Park, located at North 26th Street and Atkinson Avenue. “MPD has repeatedly called on community members to take a more active role in stabiliziing their neighborhoods, and in our most challenged areas, unfortunately there are few residents willing to answer that call,” said Ald. Hamilton in a press statement. In an effort to change that, Hamilton and the 14 organizations and individuals also unveiled an approach to address the crisis called “H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Direction) Ambassadors” who will operate the Safe Zones across certain troubled neighborhoods. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
Brewers begin quest for playoffs!
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Milwaukee Brewers star Khris Davis prepares to take his at bat during the Milwaukee Brewers opening season game against the Colorado Rockies. The Brew Crew haven’t gotten off to a good start. But fans are hoping the team will play well this season and make the playoffs. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY Photos and question by Yvonne Kemp
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QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “What is your prediction for the Milwaukee Brewers 2015 season?”
MICHAEL RANDOLPH: “The Brewers will make the playoffs! Go Brew Crew!”
FRANCIS RANDOLPH: “The Brewers will not make it to the playoffs!”
Photo A: State Sen. Lena Taylor listens to activist and educator Jeanette Herrera talk about the problems that Gov. Walker’s 2015-17 “cut and borrow” state budget will create for various social service agencies and institutions the community depends on during a state budget listening session at Brentwood Church of Christ, 6425 N. 60th St. Photo B: Former Green Bay Packer Star Ahmad Green (second from left) was one of the speakers to address the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute’s 2015 Minority Health Month: “Breaking the Silence: Facing Dementia in Communities of Color” Breakfast Dialogue. With Green are (left to right): Stephanie Sue Stein, director of Milwaukee County Department on Aging, Viola “Vi” Hawkins, chair of the Department on Aging; and Bashir Easter, a Dementia Care Specialist with the department. Photo C: Volunteers “Temo” Rodriguez (on the left) and Antonio Moore (on the right) recently participated in the Center Street Marketplace: Business Improvement District 39’s (BID 39) spring business district clean-up along Center Street. The cleanup focused on improving Center Street’s appearance. Center Street Marketplace (BID 39) helps to change the negative perceptions of crime and safety on West Center Street between North 34th and North 58th Streets. Photo D: Mounted Police officer Sargent White of the Milwaukee Police Department and his horse Prince watch over a MPD squad car loaded with food for needy families in some of Milwaukee’s most challenged neighborhoods during the annual “Stuff the Squad” event at a central city Pick n’ Save, which helps to reduce crime and hunger.
JARED MCGEE: “I am a Brewers fan! I believe if the Brewers stay healthy this season, they have a chance at the playoffs!”
MATTIE REDMOND: “I am a true Brewers fan! My prediction for the 2015 season is they are off to a slow start now, but our Brewers will pick up speed and go all the way! And they will be in the playoffs! Go Brewers!
ing), we have to understand that the majority of individuals who go to prison will be released back into mainstream society. Do we really want the place that was intended to be a correctional institution to merely be a housing detention center that makes people angry, bitter and more criminal minded? I have worked inside of the Department of Corrections, with men and women, juveniles and adults, minimum to maximum security. I have worked, closely, with and observed individuals with very good hearts that made very poor decisions. Yes, there are a few psychopaths that have serious psychological is-
is what can we do right now for our brothers and sisters that are locked up, locked in and seemingly out of luck. For the past three days, I have repeatedly watched the movie “The Mack,” starring Max Julien. When I first watched this movie as a teenager, it made we want to be a cold-blooded, smooth talking, pimp walking player that the men feared and the ladies adored beyond reason. As, I watch it today, as a married man and father of daughters, I view it in a totally different fashion. I now see the underlying messages of the writer and directors that I was not savvy enough to detect when originally watching the film.
Feeling the PULSE of what’s going on in YOUR community! Photos by Yvonne Kemp
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MEN MEN Locked Up, Locked EMPOWERING MEN MEN In and Out of Luck! By Dr. Ramel Smith, “The Blaquesmith”
Too many of our brothers are locked up, locked in and out of luck. The belly of the whale with razor wire sharp teeth has eaten up our country men at an alarming rate. Since 1984, our prison population, as a nation, have increased over 400 percent; and, our Black brothers are locked up 6.5x’s faster compared to our White brothers. The purpose of prison, in theory, is threefold: 1) to punish the criminal behavior; 2) deter other members of the citizenry from anti-social behavior; and 3) for rehabilitation. We can illuminate on the obvious ills of this system or we can use our
energy towards solutions that can be implemented today and tomorrow. Prison has the ability to be a wonderful reformative tool if used correctly; but, it should be a tertiary project and not the initial starting point for an intervention program. I understand that some people at this point are pressing the buzzer to get off the bus. However, before you get off this ride and stop reading, please hear the argument in totality. One, I am not a fan of criminal behavior. Two, I do not want to be soft on crime. Three, if one does the crime, one should do the time and pay their debt to society. Pragmatically speaking (and think-
sues that need to be locked away for the protection of all; but, beloved this is not the case for the average inmate. Truth be told, many of these people are our family members, friends and neighbors. Hell, it could even be you! We know these individuals, more importantly, we know the conditions and situations that led to their, seemingly inevitable, incarceration. In the weeks to come, we will talk about preventative ideas, suggestions and programs that can be implemented by families, educational systems, business districts and our government to improve the lives of the citizenry. However, the thesis of this article
Dr. Ramel Smith
The main character, Goldie, was an intelligent man who lost his father early in life. He was very intelligent, but used those skills in a negative fashion to help provide and support his family. For these acts, he went to prison for
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The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 2
THE PULSE
The WHO•WHAT•WHERE• WHEN of YOUR Community!
F o r m e r l y
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C o m m u n i t y
H a p p e n i n g s
LEADING A TRANSFORMED LIFE SUBJECT OF AACCW LUNCHEON SERIES
African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AACCW) held another installment of its “Women In Business” series with a professional development session customized for executive women and women in leadership. This installment in the series featured Sandye Brown (pictured above, seated second from left), a master certified coach and executive leader. Brown has coached hundreds of professional women and has been retained by leading academia, corporate and non-profit institutions to bring awareness and transformed strategies to its executive leadership. Brown delivered a powerful presentation to nearly 100 women leaders to live a transformed life to the University Club audience, which was engaged in an in-depth question and answer session. Pictured above with Brown are other participants in the luncheon (seated left to right): Margaret Arney, Brown, Hall, Dr. Jeanette Mitchell; (Standing from left to right): Genyne Edwards, Autumn Latimore, Tammy Belton-Davis, Nicky Davis, Antoinette Mensah, Mara Frier, Tracy Byron, Dominique Samari. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
MISSING!
The community is asked to be on the lookout for Margaret Ellen Daniel, a 65-year-old Northside woman who has been missing for three days. Her family describes her as being basically helpless, due to her mental illnesses. She is bi-polar and schizophrenic. The family says any information or help from the community would be greatly appreciated. If anyone sees her, they are asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department's nonemergency line at 414-933-4444. You can also call the Byrd family at 414-241-9814 or 262-293-3921.
PERSPECTIVES MCJ EDITORIAL
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for...and must depend on to end the senseless violence in our community’s streets
The seemingly unrelenting series of fatal shootings that have taken place in Milwaukee’s Black community the last several days (which we won’t rehash) isn’t just about too many guns on the streets. It’s not about the “weather getting warmer” that leads to “hot tempers” erupting over the slightest provocation, misinterpreted action or uttered word. It’s a lot more complicated than being able to easily buy a gun legally or illegally, or whether anti-gun legislation alone will make our streets safer buy making it harder to own a gun. No, there’s more to it than that. To us it’s about history, cultural awareness (or unawareness), religious morals, family values and teachings, the value of human life, respecting one another—and ourselves. It’s about the politics and economics of this city and the struggles of the “have-nots” (some Black Milwaukeeans and other minorities) who are confronted with an obstacle course of racism, White supremacy and privilege that’s placed before them. It’s about the “have nots” having the ability—and opportunity—to navigate the obstacle course using a constantly changing set of rules that always favors the “majority”…the “haves.” Until we as a community come to the realization that WE are the ones we’ve been waiting for to solve this crisis and other issues confronting us, we will continue to see memorials to the fallen victims of senseless acts of violence. We will continue to read the tally of negative statistics that psychologically hold us back despite evidence that we have the innerstrength, courage and intelligence to overcome countless times in our past…AND the present. WE must marshal the resources we do have—in education, entrepreneurism, spirituality, family and extended family to pull ourselves out of this nightmarish existence. Looking at the front page of our newspaper this week, you might think we are ignoring the shootings that have occurred on our streets. We’re not. We’re simply reminding you, our readers, that there is more to Black life in Milwaukee than death. There are those in our community who are working on the problems before us, and succeeding—albeit slowly. Young and old who refuse to allow the aforementioned obstacles to keep them from attaining their goals, who are determined to reverse the negative statistics. We hope by accentuating the positives every week in the pages of the Community Journal, it will inspire those in our community who feel hopeless to fight and keep fighting until victory is won. We’ve done similar editorials in the past exhorting our community to put away the guns, to unite and take charge of their community and neighborhoods, to change the conditions that lead to acts of violence. And we’ll keep writing editorials imploring you to fulfill your dreams, to turn away from violence, drugs, alcohol and immoral behavior. We’ll continue to urge you to love and instruct our children, respect and glean wisdom from our elders, to respect our women and men, to celebrate the God-ordained institutions of marriage and family. We’ll keep imploring you to seek knowledge, for knowledge IS power! It is more powerful than any gun in existence. Instead of focusing on murder statistics, who shot who, where, when and why—which the mainstream media focuses on with a morbid and sensationalistic fascination—we will continue to accentuate the positives that DO exist in our community, while informing, educating and inspiring you our readers. Yes, Black Lives DO matter! But Black life must first and foremost matter to US as it relates to it being valued and respected by each other within the Black community!
THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL Published twice weekly, Wednesday & Friday
3612 North Martin Luther King Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: 414-265-5300 (Advertising and Administration) • 414-265-6647 (Editorial) • Website: communityjournal.net • Email: Editorial@communityjournal.net/Advertising@communityjournal.net MCJ STAFF: Patricia O’Flynn -Pattillo Publisher, CEO Robert J. Thomas Assoc. Publisher Todd Thomas, Vice Pres. Mikel Holt, Assoc. Publisher Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr., Editor Teretha Martin, Technical Consultant/Webmaster Billing Dept./Publisher’s Admin. Assist.
Colleen Newsom, Classified Advertising Jimmy V. Johnson, Sales Rep. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Taki S. Raton, Richard G. Carter, Fr. Carl Diederichs, Rev. Joe McLin PHOTOGRAPHER: Yvonne Kemp
Opinion and comments expressed on the Perspectives page do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management of the MCJ. Letters and “other perspectives” are accepted but may be edited for content and length.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Wait 24 hours before getting mad and reacting. If it doesn’t bother you in 24 hours, it probably isn’t important enough to get mad over.” --Anonymous
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 3
The great Antoine “Fats” Domino survived Hurricane Katrina Remember when…
By Richard G. Carter
“You made me cry, when you said goodbye. Ain’t that a shame. My tears fell like rain…” Fats Domino, Imperial Records (1955)
Over the years, many fine performers who pioneered original Black rhythm and blues in the 1950s have passed on. The talent of these men and women -- household names in our Black communities -- cannot be replaced. Sadly, some never were properly recognized for their signal contributions to this distinctly American musical genre.
A partial roll call: Johnny Ace, Faye Adams, LaVern Baker, Buddy Bailey, J.R. Bailey, Florence Ballard, Hank Ballard, Dean Barlow, Chester Brown, Ruth Brown, Ray Charles, Raoul Cita, Sam Cooke, Opal “Shag” Courtney Jr., Bo Diddley, Harvey Fuqua, Sherman Garnes, Marvin Gaye, Shirley Goodman, Gerald (Bounce) Gregory, Roy Hamilton, Donnie Hathaway, James “Pookie” Hudson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Willie C. (Play it Cool) Jackson, Etta James, Leonard Lee, Bobby Lester, Frankie Lymon, Clyde McPhatter, Harold Melvin, Pirkle Lee Moses Jr., Wilson Pickett, Jimmy Ricks, Nolan Strong, Dallas Taylor, Tammi Terrell, Sony Til, Big Joe Turner, Billy Ward, Ernest Warren, Mary Wells, Rudy West, Tony Williams, Chuck Willis, Little Walter, Little Willie John, Muddy Waters, Jackie Wilson, and Howlin’ Wolf, to name just a few. Many died much too young. Ace and Terrell were 24; Lymon, 25; Cooke, 29; Hathaway, 34; Hamilton, 40; McPhatter, 41; Gaye one day short of 45, and Wells and Wilson, 49. Fortunately, one of the best -- Antoine “Fats” Domino -- is still around at 87. In 1965, as a young reporter with the Milwaukee Sentinel, I was privileged to meet and interview the legendary Domino -- one of my all- time favorites -- following his sold-out concert at the Eagles Club. But I could not know what would transpire 40 years later. In September 2005 -- in the wake of devastation by Hurricane Katrina -- it appeared we had lost the renowned New Orleans native and resident. A vocal giant from the days of yore, the rotund Domino also was a boss stride pianist with a bluesy, boogie-woogie style, unique singing accent and effervescent personality that endeared him to millions. Indeed, once Domino burst onto the Black music scene in the early ‘50s with the likes of “The Fat Man” -- which gave him his nickname -- “Goin’ Home,” “Every Night About This Time” and “Be My Guest,” he became synonymous with original Black R&B. In 1986, he was among the first class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But for several days in 2005, Fats’ friends and fans feared the worst. At 77, he had chosen to remain home with his family due to the ill health of his wife, Rosemary. As Katrina made landfall, his house in heavily flooded Lower 9th Ward, went under. On Sept. 1, his agent said he had not heard from Fats since before the monster storm appeared.
The Tale of Two Cities: Part 4 Urban Renewal is about Urban Removal
As I’ve tried to articulate in previous articles, gentrification is an economic occurrence that is really color blind. Unfortunately, the reality is that most of the benefactors of gentrification are white and most of the victims of gentrification are Black. The race issues have become the American secret and will never be resolved, if ever, without continuous dialogue. This is why gentrification has become a racial issue. If you take into account the perception and propaganda regarding Black people, nearly every institution, knowingly or unknowingly, in America promotes the inferiority of Black people (i.e. religion, language, law, education, history, etc.) and too many white and Black people have drank the Kool-Aid. The concept of urban renewal is in itself a negative because the term is primarily used to denote gentrification. I’ve never heard the term applied to either the suburbs or even to rural areas. It’s primarily used in reference to where Black people live (urban) and renewal means that now white people want to live there. The tale of two cities is just another example of the oppression that Black people have endured in America which takes many shapes and forms and gentrification is the latest. It’s all about one’s perspective. There are many people, including public and elected leaders, are confused and perplexed about the issue of gentrification and their rationale is that investment is good and how can anyone be opposed to this. I’ve heard some say that Black people didn’t do anything with those neighborhoods and now that we’re making investment and physical improvements what’s the fuss? Well, there is a lot to fuss about. I don’t think Black people object to progress, but usually progress means good for white people and bad for Black people and while fact or fiction, gentrification sure looks like that. Black people view urban renewal (progress) as primarily benefitting the White community, while the Black community is being massively displaced and forced to relocate. No matter how you cut it, at the end of the day, for Black people, gentrification means that urban renewal is urban removal. Gentrification is about economics. While there is definitely a racial overtone with gentrification, it’s still is an economic issue. Gentrification, investment, capital, wealth, appreciation, profits, and even poverty are all economic terms and when economics are discussed, we must have a healthy discussion of how both groups start. We must view gentrification through an economic lens and not an emotional lens. If we are to view gentrification as an economic issue, then whites must acknowledge the massive and insurmountable economic advantage that they enjoy when compared to Blacks. Many Black people are not clear regarding the economic disparities but they see and feel the disparities on a daily basis. Because of slavery and its legacy, Blacks are at the bottom of the economic food chain. I’m not sure how and why so many white people just don’t get it, is it severe amnesia, ignorance, or is it a pathological denial of their historical treatment of Black people which has significantly contributed to Black’s “current” economic circumstances. If Black people were truly able to compete economically, there would be no need for urban renewal. Let me just provide you with a small reminder. While there are no more white slave-owners and the barbaric and criminal chattel enslavement of Black people has disappeared, which lasted for more than 350 years, Black people are still suffering significantly. The American institution of slavery represents one of the saddest commentaries on man’s inhumanity to man in history. REAL ECONOMIC AND PHYSCOLOGICAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO BLACK PEOPLE THAT HAS YET TO BE RECONCILED. The history of this period is so brutal and morbid that they will arouse hostilities at the thought that these things even occurred. Whites can’t stomach having a real conversation about this sad period of American history nor discuss the consequences that impact 45 million Black people today, but we must. Whites must come to understand the economic disadvantage that today’s Blacks have
Antoine “Fats” Domino
Happily, CNN later reported that he had been rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Fats’ daughter -gospel singer Karen Domino White -- identified him from a photo shown on TV. The great one and his family were taken to a shelter in Baton Rouge and stayed with JaMarcus Russell, quarterback of Louisiana State University’s football team. Fats returned to his waterlogged home on Oct. 15 to sadly discover that it had been looted. Among missing items were 18 of his 21 Gold Records -- each signifying a million sales from his salad days as the bestselling Black singer of the ‘50s and ‘60s. And, in the memorable words of one of his biggest hits “Ain’t that
a shame…” When Fats and I talked 40 years earlier -- seated side-by-side at the Eagles Club bar -- he sported his signature, flat-top, tight wavy hair style and a ring on every finger. He never stopped smiling and talking and I never stopped listening. Fats revealed that at the start of his long, colorful career, he occasionally sang background for Big Joe Turner and Lloyd Price. When I named several of his records I really liked, Fats broke into song. He’d belt out each tune -making sure it sounded just like the record -- to the delight and amusement of a host of mostly White onlookers. Indeed, I was mesmerized listening to his spur-of-the moment, a cappella excerpts from “Blueberry Hill;” “Blue Monday;” “I’m Walkin’;” “Whole Lotta Lovin;” “Yes It’s Me and I’m in Love Again;” “Walkin’ to New Orleans,” and “Ain’t That a Shame.” But as a rhythm and blues purist, I had to pose a pivotal question to Fats. It’s one I put to the two-dozen or so doo-wop and original Black R&B legends I’ve interviewed. “How do your feel when White singers such as Pat Boone (‘Ain’t That A Shame’) and Ricky Nelson (‘I’m Walkin’) make lame covers of your songs? Does it bother you that White-bread rip-offs get more radio play than your down-home originals?” To my surprise, Fats said he loved it. Why? Simply because more people would hear the songs -- many of which he wrote -- which meant sharing the royalties. To Fats, these things were far more important than the lack of real R&B artistry in the cover versions. In the scheme of things, I guess Fats was correct. The name of the game for Black and White music makers always has been the long green that puts food in the mouth and pays the bills. Especially when you realize how so many of the aforementioned original Black R&B greats never really made the big bucks in their own salad days. So long live the great Antoine “Fats” Domino. You’re still the man, Fats. --Milwaukee native Richard G. Carter is a freelance columnist
inherited within our capitalistic economy. How can the Black man truly compete in America’s economic race when theWhite competition has been given a 400 year head start in the economic race? The American institution of slavery was a crime against Black people and when you express this in economic terms, slavery was the largest and most lucrative economic windfall the world has ever witness. Slavery was beyond profitable; its economic impact was the foundation for today’s $100+ trillion in wealth and has placeAmerica as the clear superpower and global leader today (Whites have inherited nearly 90 percent from the previous genRahim islam eration). I asked you, what did Blacks inherit other than poverty. At the end of theAmerican institution of slavery and with nearly 100% of Blacks enslaved (1863), Blacks owned less than one half of one percent of the nation’s wealth. Today, after nearly 150 years of “freedom” Blacks still only own less than one half of one percent of the nation’s wealth. Why? Is the Black community just inept? Is the Black community reflective of the negative propaganda of inferiority? I say a resounding NO! The Black community has done an incredible job given the structural disadvantages that have been placed in their way, time and time again, but the economic disparities is crippling. Does the physical freedom of Blacks from enslavement in 1863 equate to economic freedom? During that time, Blacks were in abject poverty, and four to five generations later Blacks haven’t been able to compete with those who inherited trillions of dollars which was achieved primarily by having free labor for more than 350 years. Let’s put this in perspective, we’re not talking about a few years, were talking about hundreds of years. This is why I describe the enslavement of Black people as anAmerican institution. Institutions are defined as "stable, valued, recurring patterns of behavior.” As structures or mechanisms of social order, they govern the behavior of a set of individuals within a given community. Institutions are identified with a social purpose, transcending individuals and intentions by mediating the rules that govern living behavior (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). In addition, the term institution is commonly applied to customs and behavior patterns important to a society, as well as to particular formal organizations of the government and public services. Like all otherAmerican institutions, theAmerican institution of slavery has influenced all aspects ofAmerican life andAmerican people and has created a permanent mindset and general believability for the acceptance of Black people to continue in an inferior economic condition (this is the only way to explain the general opinion about Black people that is held by white people).
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RELIGION
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 4
“He Is Risen!”
Brentwood Church of Christ’s Brentwood Health Organization (BHO), held its annual Darrell L. Turner Excellence Awards,which recognizes a community organization or person who has partnered with BHO in order to help it fulfill its mission, vision and purpose of providing “healthcare without walls.” This year’s honorees were Hayat Pharmacy (for partnering with Brenwood to help provide Milwaukee County diabetes health services) and AMF Bowlero Bowling Lanes in Wauwatosa, which helped raise funds for BHO’s diabetes program and health services. Pictured above are (seated left to right): Margo Turner, Anne Odoms, Pastor Melva Henderson, Sandra Atwater, Bushra Zaibak; (standing left to right): Ervin Henderson, Hashim Zaibak of Hyatt Pharmacy; Melwyn Turner, the current CEO of BHO; Terry Atwater, Leslie Odoms, previous CEO of BHO. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
My Brothers and Sisters, Those of us who bear the name of Christian are in the midst of celebrating the central mystery of our Faith: The Death and Resurrection of Jesus. On this Third Sunday of Easter, April 19, our readings are: Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19; 1st John 2: 1-5a; Luke 24: 3548. In the first reading Peter addresses the folks who help put Jesus to death. Peter, the same one who also denied Him, is now preaching that the author of life has been put to death, but that those who denied Him will not receive a just sentence for their crime, but will be forgiven and their sins will be wiped away. Just as with Peter, their ignorance saved them and they were able to rejoice in the Resurrection. And all of us can certainly claim ignorance when we deny Him and place ourselves first. And John carries on the same saving message in the second reading. We hear that even though we do commit sin, “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.” And He is not just our Advocate but also the Advocate for the whole world. The Gospel starts with a reference to the two from Emmaus. After they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, they rushed back to Jerusalem and are now telling the rest of the disciples what they experienced in their own home. And Jesus comes again and says to all: “Peace be with you.” He is not a ghost, but
Least of These Ministries to hold fundraiser banquet
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR FATH-BASED COMMUNITY
Least of These Ministries will be holding a benefit banquet to help support its mission Sunday, June 28, at 4 p.m., at the Raddison Hotel, 7065 N. Port Washington Rd.The banquet will cele-
brate Dr. Nathaniel Stampley’s 29th trip to the Motherland. He and the ministry will be traveling to Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The focus of the mission will be spiritual, educational and economical. Dr. Stamply is the president of Least of These Ministries, a 501c(3) non-profit religious organization.ticket prices are $40 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. African attire is desired but not required. For tickets, contact Least of These International Ministries at 414-264-2727, or 414-374-5292. Or email the organization at leastofthese2003@yahoo.com
Dr. Lisa Adams-Qualls will be traveling to Ghana with Dr. Nathaniel Stampley and The Least of These Ministries Mission Team in September. Donations are now being accepted. To send donations or to inquire about the mission of The Least of Theses Ministries, call Evangelist Margaret Adams, 414-554-3888.
“Faith is like Wi-Fi, it’s invisible but it has the BREAD power to connect you to IN THE WILDERNESS what you need.”--Anonymous
By Fr. Carl Diederichs, All Saints Catholic Church
He is not a resuscitated body either. He is truly present to them and continues His teaching, some of which they did not understand before the Death and Resurrection. His words were life giving. He said that all that had been written about Him in the Law, the prophets and the psalms was fulfilled. And the heart of the message was: “Thus it is written that Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to these things.” What meaning for us here and now? We who claim as our own the name “Christian,” are the witnesses now. We have been baptized and been washed clean in the water, we have been anointed with Holy Chrism as a priest, prophet and servant leader. We become the
authentic voice of a merciful, loving, forgiving God through Jesus the Risen Lord. This is now. We carry the precious gift of God’s powerful presence in our very hearts. When we reach out and touch those in need, those suffering from poverty, violence, and sexual abuse, those who have lost all hope, we are not only witnesses, but also the very heart of God being what we were anointed to be, Christ. He has no hands but yours, no feet but yours, no caring heart but yours. Christ has Risen!
Church Women United presents Valiant Award to Greater Galilee MBC member Margaret Brown
Margaret R. Brown, a member of Greater Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, has been named a recepient of the Church Women United’s (CWU) “Valiant Award.” The Valiant Award is presented to a member who has relentlessly given her gifts, talent, time and unselfish service to further the building of God’s Kingdom here on earth and to assist others in doing the same. Brown, who is a member of CWU and has been its Key Woman for 12 years, was given the award for exemplifying the very essence of the organization and the award for helping Margaret R. Brown others, from family members to others she has encountered throughout her life, from working in the Food Service Department at the VA Hospital for 22 years (and part-time in food service for Milwaukee Public Schools), to enhancing her knowledge, with both secular and religious studies. Born May 20, 1927 in Hampton, Ark., the third of fourteen children, Margaret was married in Hampton at a young age and had one daughter. In 1953 she moved to Milwaukee, doing domestic work for eight years. Learning has always been a prority in Brown’s life. In Hampton, a small country community, there was only a one-room elementary school and no high School. Brown’s desire to obtain her high school diploma was realized many years after completing her elementary education. She attended MATC two nights a week for one-and-a-half years, receiving a certificate as a power sewing machine operator. She worked part-time sewing habits for nuns. In 1990, she enrolled in the National Congress of Christian Education. Brown completed 25 Bible study classes and four phases of written papers and received her diploma in 2010. Brown also has a graduate certificate as a Church Dean and is a cerfified usher. She has--and continues--to faithfully study the Bible and is now interested in enrolling in the Midwest Bible College for further studies. “Bible study teaches me how to treat other people and how I should be treated.” That is a philosophy Brown put to personal use in 1974, when her daughter died at age 39, leaving behind five children. Brown gave up her one-bedroom apartment and purchased a house in which to raise her five grandchildren. In addition to the five grandchildren, Brown has 14 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. Brown has been a member of Greater Galilee for over 60 years, serving on the Senior Usher Board, General Mission Board, and as a Sunday School teacher. Church Women United is a covenantal community that blends as “One Body and One Spirit,” women of mamny Christian denominations, communions, and coalitions. Some of its most recent service programs including sponsoring “The World Day of Prayer” and donations to “Exploit No More,” which is designed to build and sustain a safe house in Milwaukee for girls who have been trafficked. Marilyn Stone serves as president of the Milwaukee Unit of Church Women United. Churches that wish to become a part of Church Women United, can contact Stone at 262-7630918 or Jenelle Elder-Green at 414-449-9055.
MISSION DAY AT ZION HILL MBC
“Teaching For Results: Mission Education” was the theme of Zion Hill MBC’s annual Mission Day observance, held last Sunday at the church, located at 1825 W. Hampton, Ave. Victoria Frazier (seated far left) of Pilgrim Rest MBC, was the keynote speaker. With Frazier are (seated): Rev. Dr. Russell B. Williamson, pastor of Zion Hill; his wife, Zion Hill’s First Lady, Jenelle Williamson; (Back row standing): Barbara Culler, Zion Hill’s Missionary Society President; Larry Morgan, and Wanda Boone, second vice-president and program chairperson. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
The “Carlton Banks Strategy”
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 5
New York attorney Lawrence Otis Graham shares a fear held by millions of Black parents that his teenage sons would be targets of racial profiling, or worse, could end up victims of police brutality. What separates Graham from most concerned Black parents is the novel strategy he employs to avert that possibility. In a video posted on local journalist James Causey’s Facebook page, Graham offers the usual words of wisdom when confronted by police—be respectful, don’t argue, keep your hands visible, no sudden moves—but goes beyond those common sense mandates by introducing what I call the “Carlton Banks Strategy”—making his two sons dress like nerds. Polo shirt, loafer shoes, khaki pants. No hoodies, t-shirts or name brand tennis shoes. Sound extreme? That depends on your personal assumptions. I initially thought the strategy to be a bit extreme until I realized both my sons went to Messmer High School and dressed similarly. Speaking of Carlton Banks, the character popularized by Actor Alfonso Ribeiro on the popular 1990s television show “Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” I recall an episode, which dealt specifically with racial profiling. In the episode, Ribeiro and the show’s star Will Smith are asked to drive a high profile White attorney’s Mercedes to a resort, but are stopped by police for “driving too slow.” Smith and Ribeiro are arrested on “suspicion of being Black in a White neighborhood,” and subsequently argue over whether their arrest was in violation of the “driving while Black” police code.’ Carlton’s nerdy attire didn’t impress the police officers, and he and Smith are jailed until Carlton’s father and the owner of the car show up and threaten the police with charges of false arrest. They also lambaste the police for racial profiling. The show was prophetic in many respects, and came to mind as I watched the Graham video, which was taped in his multi-million dollar home. Are police influenced by a Black person’s dress or his socioeconomic status? I guess it depends on the police officers involved in the incident. Back in the day, when this publication waged a war against police misconduct under then Chief of Police Harold Breier, I was stopped by police more times than I can remember, no matter what I wore. Since then, I can recall being stopped only once, although I have been shadowed by security guards at suburban stores on a number of occasions. Having gray hair and wearing a suit probably figures into my graduation of sorts. As for my sons and grandson, it’s a different story. Two of them say they were profiled, but they followed my warnings and strategy of being overly respectful and emerged unscathed. It also helps that they speak proper English, versus “Ebonics.” A “yes sir, no sir” doesn’t hurt, nor does it make you a punk, I told them. I actually echoed most of Graham’s verbal instructions, only adding something a Black police officer advised me to do: “When stopped by police at night, turn on your interior lights and put your hands on the steering wheel.” As I write this, I can envision some White folks shaking their heads and saying Black people overly exaggerate racial profiling. To them, not only are racism and bigotry distant memories in our ‘post racial’ society, but also racial profiling is a nonissue. And as Riberio said in the Fresh Prince episode, “if Black folks aren’t doing something illegal, you have nothing to worry about. Right?” Moreover, Black on Black crime is the number one culprit for Black teens, not police killings. To them I say yes, it is true that our sons have more to worry about walking, riding or diddy-bopping in our own neighborhoods. But I categorically reject the ludicrous assumption that occurrences of racial profiling— or racism for that matter—have declined to any great extent in America. Moreover, the fear Black men harbor toward police is justified as evidenced by the half dozen killings of brothers by police in the recent past. (Not all police. Not even a majority. But a significant percentage unable to leave their prejudices in their precinct station lockers. Or, as in the case of the Ferguson, Mo. police department, they are carrying out a racial agenda to pad the city’s tax coffers.) Fact of the matter is, I don’t know a single Black adult male who has not been racially profiled, either by police, a store clerk or the zookeeper whose prejudices prompts him to assume all Black men, boys and infants are thieves and thus will steal the elephant’s peanuts and hold the baby
SIGNIFYIN’ By Mikel Kweku Osei Holt
monkey hostage. Yeah, racial profiling is alive and well, and if you don’t believe me, drive through Shorewood, Whitefish Bay or Fox Point. Whether you’re in a hooptie or a new Cadillac, there’s a good possibility you’ll end up with a ticket, or arrested for driving half a mile an hour more than the speed limit allows. In fact, you don’t have to be speeding at all. Your crime is being “Black” and there’s a ticket with your name on it. And Lord help you if you complain. And therein lies the fears of most Black parents and some “sperm donors.” I have the utmost respect for those men and women who put their lives on the line to protect and serve our community. But there is an element within every police department who, as products of their environment, use their authority to harass, intimidate and in some cases instigate confrontations that end up with a Black man or boy, lying face down in the street. Whether the department admits, or the larger community accepts it, there are police officers who feel it is their responsibility to put their foots on the necks of tax paying Black citizens, whether they are guilty of a crime or not. It’s about control, intimidation and maintenance of the apartheid system. There is a reason why community/police relations have deteriorated over the years, when the situation should be reversed. Fortunately, there are seeds of hope, police who take their oath seriously and Black citizens who understand and appreciate the importance of a police/community partnership. Unfortunately, the good is often overshadowed by the negative headlines, and our fears, which are grounded in personal confrontations and the related experiences of others are relayed to our children for whom we fear will fall prey to police brutality, whether they dress like Carlton or not. Hotep.
Y&E
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 6
YOUTH&EDUCATION
PEARLS FOR TEEN GIRLS AT MILLER PARK
The Brewers Community Foundation recently hosted 15 young ladies from Pearls for Teen Girls. They took part in a tour of Miller Park, enjoyed lunch, interactive tour, and cool gifts. They also had the opportunity to engage and hear from some of the women in the Brewers front office. The day was topped off by a visit from the Brewers Ballpark Pup, Hank. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
Milwaukee Chapter of Jack and Jill to host Old School Dance Party
The Milwaukee chapter will be holding an Old School Dance Party on Saturday April 25th benefitting the awesome organization PEARLS for Teen Girls Inc. PEARLS for Teen Girls, Inc. is a dynamic and innovative nonprofit leadership development organization serving atrisk, primarily African American and Latina girls, ages 10 to 19 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PEARLS helps girls achieve in school, avoid teen pregnancy, and use their personal power to achieve their goals and dreams. This is a phenomenal organization that supports over
1,000 girls in the Milwaukee area with resounding success stories and it would be awesome if the community came out in full force to support this event. Please contact Jack and Jill at http://jackandjillmke.org/ to purchase tickets for this event. The Milwaukee Chapter of Jack and Jill is committed to the national goal of “Power & Potential: Parents Empowering Youth through Leadership Development, Cultural Heritage and Community Service.” To fulfill this mission Jack and Jill mothers and their children have impacted several organizations with their time, talent and resources through programming and community service efforts. These organizations include the Hunger Task Force, Family House, Growing Power, Milwaukee Renaissance Academy, Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure, the Jack & Jill of America Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club of America, Alice’s Garden, the Greater Milwaukee YWCA, Aurora Sinai Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Outing Association, and the Sickle Cell Disease Association.--Article by Allegra Walls
K
KALEIDOSCOPE
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 7
t h e M C J lifestyle & entertainment section
Urban agriculture and literacy team up at Miller Park
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Brewers Community Foundation helped unveil Sharp Literacy, Inc.’s 12th “We Love to Learn” book titled “There Grows the Neighborhood: Agriculture in the City.” The book sprang from conversations with noted urban agriculturalist and farmer Will Allen. Allen, who is the founder of “Growing Power,” is pictured (third from right) with (in no particular order): Cecelia Gore, executive director of Brewers Community Foundation, Brewers Star Ryan Braun, Lynda Kohler, president/ceo of Growiing Power; Doug Erlacher, Sharp Board chair; Tom Mroczkowski, Sharp board of directors member; michael Carriere, and students from Hartford Avenue Elementary School. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
Northwest Side CDC to Host Neighborhood Clean-Up Kick-Off to Impact Efforts in the Garden Homes Community
Northwest Side Community Development Corporation, in partnership with Wells Fargo, will team up with the Uniting Garden Homes community and other volunteers to clean up Garden Homes Park. The clean-up will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Earth Day, April 22. The clean-up is part of a larger effort in the Garden Homes neighborhood, which includes partner organizations the Northwest Side CDC, Uniting Garden Homes Neighborhood Association, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) of Milwaukee, 30th Street Corridor, and Clean Wisconsin. “The commitment of Wells Fargo, not just in terms of manpower for this clean up, but also funding for our larger project in Garden Homes, greatly increases our collective ability to achieve meaningful, lasting progress in the Garden Homes neighborhood,” said Howard Snyder, Executive Director of Northwest Side CDC. Demetrius Brown of Uniting Garden Homes, along with Snyder, will speak briefly at the cleanup about the historic Garden Homes neighborhood and larger collaborative efforts to bring renewal and growth to the area. For more information about the Northwest Side CDC or the Earth Day Neighborhood Clean-up, please visit nwscdc.org/events or facebook.com/nwscdc. The Northwest Side Community Development Corporation has served the economic development needs of Milwaukee’s lowincome communities since 1983. Their mission is to enhance the standard of living on the northwest side by improving the business environment for low-income communities through community economic development. The Northwest Side CDC assists with neighborhood strategic planning to improve safety, land use planning and development on the Northwest Side to spur retail growth, and numerous business and workforce development programs.
“Stress Free for Life” – A new book hot off the press that every psychiatrist, psychologist, health professional, college professor, doctoral candidate in any discipline, community organizer, minister, agency head, elected official, etc. should read. This book is based on over 40 years of teaching meditation, life coaching & interdisciplinary research and it includes complete instructions on how to meditate plus meditation affirmations. “Manage Stress and it will hurt you, Might Even kill you.” This book by Ra Un Nefer Amen can be ordered at orders@tauinetwork.com. 2015 State Budget Listening Session – Saturday, April 18th from 10AM –Noon at the Wisconsin Black Historical Museum 2620 W. Center St. Let your voice be heard on the proposed State Budget in Education, Transportation, Child Care, Corrections, Job Creation, Wheda and more. This meeting is hosted by Senator Nikia Harris – Dodd, Rep. LaTonya Johnson, Rep. Leon Young and Rep. Evan Goyke. “Black Men’s Healing Circle Summit” – If you are interested in participating in this summit send me a message at Anthony.courtney@ymail.com or a private message on Face Book to Anthony Courtney. “Mother to Mother: An open conversation about
FROM THE BLACK By Tony Courtney
our life - journey and paths of healing and celebration.” Sunday, April 26th from 3PM – 6PM at the Body and Soul Healing Arts Center 3617 N. 48th St. Hosted by Venus Williams. Be The Change: Milwaukee – Come out and share ideas of how we can make our city better. Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the Big Eazy 2053 N. Martin Luther King Dr. First Public Meeting of Milwaukee Independent Black Parent Association Monday,April 27th from 6:00PM 8:00PM at the Wisconsin African American Women's Center 3020 W. Vliet St. Dr. Umar Johnson will be there via Face Time.Hosted by Cheryl Blue.
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The Tale of Two Locked Up, Locked Cities: Part 4 In and Out of Luck! The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 8
(continued from page 3) The fact is that Black Americans entered the new millennium the same way they entered the previous four centuries: impoverished. Blacks still bear nearly 10 times their proportional share of poverty and all of its nasty derivatives like broken homes, drug abuse, incarceration, unemployment, and neighborhood blight. The redistribution of wealth and power has never been achieved for Black people nor has any compensation been given to Blacks for nearly 350 years of free labor, what we see today in America is social integration not economic integration. With the watering down of affirmative action and special set asides that were supposed to repair some of these injustices and attempt to level the play field for Black people, Blacks are now told to compete like all other Americans for the distribution of wealth that is LOCKED UP ALMOST PERMANENTLY. It has been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Black people to progress economically when the same hands that held the whip still holds all of the wealth and power. Whites need not try to feel the pain of Blacks who have been oppressed at every step in American history, it is my hope that the true Americans will stop pretending this didn’t happen and encourage others to use their powers, positions, and influence to create and support policies that recognizes the overwhelming wrong perpetuated against Black people by white people. I know there is some rhetoric by some very conservative whites that express a “sick” ignorance that they didn’t enslave Black people - they’re partially correct and partially incorrect. Today’s whites inherited nearly 90 percent of America’s $110 trillion in wealth and control of every other American institution, and Blacks primarily inherited poverty to the tune of nearly two thirds of the 45 million Blacks in America live below, at, or near poverty levels. YOU DO THE MATH. It’s time for the white community to stop denying OUR COLLECTIVE AMERICAN HISTORY and to recognize who were the oppressors and who were the oppressed. It’s time that the white community accepts the benefit and privilege that slavery has afforded them. After countless struggles, marches, riots, demonstrations, and the passing of civil and voting rights legislation, Blacks still haven’t been able to overcome the massive wealth disparity that slavery has created. I hope have strayed too far off the path but I must state that the “tale of two cities” is also a “the ghost of America’s past.” Gentrification, while it’s primarily about economics, one can’t dismiss the racial overtones. When we discuss economics, we must discuss American history because both the massive wealth and desperate poverty didn’t happen last night. Many Black people view urban renewal as an exclusive benefit for white people and their resources at the expense of the final blow and death of historically Black communities. No matter how you cut it, at the end of the day, for Black people, gentrification means that urban renewal is urban removal. As I’ve tried to articulate, because of the massive wealth disparity between whites and Blacks, Blacks haven’t been able to control their own destiny in a capitalistic society (having capital absolutely matters). Because many of our urban cities are near bankruptcy and/or unable to stop the economic ice from melting and are faced with economic “Catch 22’s” of how to increase revenues when the city has a disproportionate level of poverty and the associated ills of poverty that prevent capital investment. These cities need high income residents and they also need the private sector to help build, redevelop, and to invest in “market” rate housing to make this happen. You can’t blame developers (this is what they do) and you can’t blame the new residents (they are only buying what they want); however, someone in leadership must be skilled at what really is going on and if a city wants to increase high income residents with scaled market rate housing development but also avoid gentrification and the uprooting of low income Blacks, they have to adopt EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT. I’m writing an article now regarding the concept of “equitable.” Equitable for Black people would mean that nationally being 14% of the population then Blacks, as a whole, should reflect 14% of the negative and positive demographics versus nearly 60 plus percent of the negative demographics and nearly zero percent of the positive demographics (this is structural deficit). In urban cities where Blacks are the majority and we see the “tale of two cities” being fully played out, it’s clear that Blacks still have even higher negative percentages than their population, but with the high voting bloc, Blacks still have nearly zero percent in positive demographics, especially in the area of wealth and capital. There are several public policies that cities can adopt and implement to ensure EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, which include, but not limited to, the following: • Expand Tax Incentives and Abatements-Many cities have leveraged large scale “downtown” developments by expanding the tax incentive afforded to their project to expand the benefit to include neighborhoods in need. Doing this allows the cross collateralization of higher and more lucrative tax yields with lower tax yield communities • Create Affordable Mandates with Market Rate Developers - Many cities require developers to include an art component within their development for the city contributions and tax benefits that are given. Cities can also ensure, for a residential projects, mandate an affordable component either within the project or in a “targeted” neighborhood • Fast Forward Long Term Development- At the rate that many cities are able to eliminate neighborhood blight and restore them with affordable housing, they will never be able to catch up. The rapid deterioration of neighborhood housing and blight significantly outpaces the new housing production. To respond to this phenomenon, some cities have borrowed enough capital to do what it would normally take them 10-15 years to do, they can now do in two to three years, this creates scale. • Create Financial Enhancement Tools--A key factor for the lack of scaled development in traditionally low income neighborhoods has been that investment and bank underwriting criteria is usually too high to allow developers to invest at speculation, this can be significantly addressed if cities are able to leverage their spending and financial capacities to create enhancement tools which can provide additional protections to lenders and investors in these neighborhoods. This is a function of cost exceeding market values and the only way market values can increase, it will need purposeful neighborhood development. • Development of “Workforce” Housing-- Too many of the existing affordable housing programs are for low-to-very-low income individuals. While this is absolutely needed and shouldn’t be compromised, cities must also develop strategies to develop housing for those individuals who are currently income restricted for existing affordable housing developments by expanding the income eligibility to include higher income families. • Targeted Neighborhood Development --Cities that have begun to challenge urban blight have realized that they can’t “boil” the ocean, meaning they can’t do everything everywhere (there are just not enough resources). These cities have identified what neighborhood(s) have the best chance to be developed over the next five years and have begun to amass a concentration of resources to rebuild them. • Create a Stronger Demand-Side Strategy- Not enough focus has been placed on the buyers, especially when it all is said and done, to counter gentrification we must 1) increase the number of high income Blacks to return to these neighborhoods, and 2) secure a critical mass of low-to-moderate income buyers and/or renters to support the underwriting criteria required for development. If cities fail to begin to address gentrification with EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, the tale of two cities that we now see in cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Milwaukee will place our future generations at a real disadvantage because this generation failed to do the right thing TODAY, urban renewal will continue to mean the urban removal of Black people. Rahim Islam is a National Speaker and Writer, Convener of Philadelphia Community of Leaders, and President/CEO of Universal Companies, a community development and education management company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Follow Rahim Islam on FaceBook(Rahim Islam) & Twitter (@RahimIslamUC)
(continued from page 1) five years. Sadly, he stated the experience did not rehabilitate him, but turned him into an animal. With this extreme bitterness, he returned to the only game he knew when released-- the criminal game. At the end of the movie, the temporary materialistic success he had won was overshadowed by the death of multiple friends and family members. The film ends with him riding on a bus alone in a daze to some unknown place. Ironically enough, it was very similar to how the movie began, where he was riding home from prison on a bus. Although his destination was to a familiar geographical location, he was still alone, confused directionless, and lost. What does this fictional movie have to do with our societal problems of today? Our men are increasingly leaving our prisons only to recidivate and return back to the belly of the whale. Our prison system and societal views must change toward the treatment of inmates, if we expect the men and women who are inside the system to change. We understand for successful re-entry into society, three ingredients are needed to improve the probability for success: 1) familial support; 2) employment and economic opportunities; and 3) hope. If you know someone who is currently incarcerated, write them a letter, sign up for a visit, put some money on their books. If you belong to a community organization, you should adopt an institution or an inmate and give them support while inside and help to set up opportunities for them upon their release. If you are actively involved in legislature, visit these places to see their living conditions and initiate an intimate conversation. Even though they cannot vote, they are still your constituents. If you do not want to go into a correctional facility or work with inmates, then help a
Milwaukee Urban League Announces Support for New Bucks Arena
The Milwaukee Urban League (MUL) announced recently that it will join with others in the community to support a combination of public and private funding to build a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks. The MUL Board of Directors recently met with Bucks President, Peter Feigin, and after the meeting decided to support building a new arena because: • A new arena / sports complex can have a significant economic impact on our city, region and state. • In other cities, new arenas have been a catalyst for other development – which adds jobs and tax base to the economy. • The Bucks want to have significant minority hiring and contractor participation during construction of the new arena. In fact, Mr. Feigin has already met with the ethnically diverse Chambers of Commerce to discuss supplier diversity and minority-owned, women-owned contractor participation. While not a Chamber of Commerce, MUL is also a member of the ethnically diverse coalition. • The Bucks are also receptive to discussing the development of a “Community Benefits Agreement” similar to what some other cities have done when new arenas/sports complexes have been built. A Community Benefits Agreement is designed to ensure that minority and women- owned businesses participate during and after the arena con(continued on page 11)
child with a parent that is incarcerated. Warden Floyd Mitchell at Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility has quarterly board meetings which brings all type of community members from faithbased, legal, educational, recreational, psychological, business and health milieus to help serve his population of men and women that are incarcerated. We need to participate in activities such as this and create other creative opportunities. Most importantly, we need to talk to the men and women currently and recently released from correctional facilities for ideas and suggestions. These individuals are creative, knowledgeable and intelligent—let’s not make the same mistake over and over again and then be disgruntled over rising recidivism rates. When our brothers and sisters recite and return with those “jail house promises,” we should build life into those promises and help them manifest into reality. Those are not insincere promises, they just aren’t sustained because the harsh reality of their situation slowly suffocates their dreams. If we can provide immediate and continual support, legitimate employment and hope, we say with authority that though they may have been locked up and locked in, they are not out of luck! Malcolm X was a real criminal, but look at his transformation. We would be wise to implement a lot of the tactics of our Muslim brothers who help to reform many of the incarcerated men who re-entered society. Do not give up on these brilliant minds because of past poor decisions. Being locked up should not translate into being permanently locked out of society. They say luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Let’s properly prepare them and give them bountiful opportunities. Sometimes, people don’t need--or want-- a handout, they just need some positive direction, authentic compassion and legitimate hope. Selah. Ashe The BLAQUESMITH
Legacy Redevelopment Corp. Launches New Brand Identity
Legacy Redevelopment Corporation, a U.S. Treasurycertified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides strategic lending solutions to Milwaukee’s underserved markets, today unveiled a new brand identity. The company is now simply LRC, an acronym of its legal name and a characterization of how it has long been known in the business community. Along with a new logo and tagline, LRC has an updated mission, vision, website (lrcmke.com) and brand messaging. “LRC provides small businesses and nonprofit organizations with needed capital to improve stressed neighborhoods and revitalize communities,” explained Sally Peltz, CEO and founder of LRC. “ Through our efforts, borrowers are able to transform city-owned vacant lots and neglected buildings into affordable housing and thriving commercial spaces.” She added, “LRC is changing Milwaukee’s neighborhoods for
the better, and we wanted a fresh, new brand that represents the exciting opportunities we bring to our loan clients and investors.” The contemporary new LRC logo is simple and abstract in design. It features a symbolic icon that contains subtle nuances for individual interpretation. At first glance, the tall blue rectangle on the left represents a commercial building with a smaller residential property butting against it on the right. The closeness of the two shapes creates a dense feel, much like life in an urban setting. Combined, the two shapes form a stylish “L” to reinforce the first letter in the new company name. The ascending roofline of the orange property is also an arrow pointing up, hinting at growth and development. Finally the three components in the icon compliment the three initials in the LRC acronym, evoking overall unity and a sense of fairness and balance.
“Mister Speaker, I am proud that the MilwaukeeCommunity Journal hails from the 4th Congressional District. It has consistently informed, analysed and entertained readers for nearly 38 years. I am pleased to give praise to Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo and her staff for providing a voice to the community and providing educational opportunities to students. I wish them many more years of success.”
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 9
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--A segment from Cong. Gwen Moore’s remarks she made on the Congressional Record paying tribute to the Milwaukee Community Journal’s Dr. Terence N. Thomas Scholarship Annual Brunch
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 10
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1,800 Wisconsin Adults Prepare to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect this April
Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA) is proud to announce the kick-off of our fourth annual Small Change Makes a BIG Difference Teach-a-Thon; a statewide push for child abuse and neglect prevention trainings. Madison – Last year SFTA and our member Child Care Resource and Referral agencies trained over 1,600 parents, early childhood professionals, and community members in child abuse and neglect prevention. This year we invite adults across Wisconsin to help us top that number at 1,800, and to do their part to prevent child abuse and neglect by participating in our Small Change Makes a BIG Difference Teacha-Thon. "The goal of the Teach-a-Thon is to build awareness through trainings and information sharing and prepare adults to take action regarding child abuse and neglect prevention,” said Jill Hoiting, SFTA Co-Director of Programs & External Relations. “We know that early experiences set the stage for a child’s life. By training more adults in strategies to prevent and put a stop to child abuse and neglect, we are setting more children up for success.” Although there has been a 5.5 percent drop overall in Child Protective Services (CPS) maltreatment reports in the past ten years, 4,886 Wisconsin children were still known victims of maltreatment in 2013, according to the most recent Department of Children and Families Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect report. The need for child abuse and neglect prevention knowledge and support is still very much present in Wisconsin, and everyone plays a role. “Whether you are a parent, a caregiver, a hospital worker, a police officer, or even the teller at a bank, you can in some way be a part of child abuse and neglect prevention,” emphasized Hoiting. “We all have a child that touches our lives either directly or indirectly. The more adults that know how to look for, prevent, and safely react to the signs of child abuse and neglect, the more children have the chance to lead happy, healthy lives.” Teach-a-Thon trainings are held throughout Wisconsin throughout the month of April, in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Trainings are open to the public and are typically low cost or free. Those interested in participating in upcoming Teach-a-Thon trainings in their area should contact their local CCR&R or stay tuned to the SFTA Teach-a-Thon web page. If you are interested in hosting a training at your Wisconsin business or organization, please e-mail kelly@supportingfamiliestogether.org or call SFTA directly at 1 (888) 713.KIDS. If you are interested in contributing towards SFTA’s work on behalf of Wisconsin children and families please visit our invest webpage.
Community conversation for community change to be held at The Big Eazy April 19
In light of recent, and yet recurring events in the community, Urban Fresh, Inc. will be hosting an informal conversation about effecting change in the community. It will take place at The Big Eazy located at 2053 N MLK Drive, this Sunday April 19th at 6:30pm. This is a solution oriented event designed to create synergy and welcome creative ideas.
Milwaukee Urban League Announces Support for New Bucks Arena
(continued from page 8) struction. The goal is to ensure that minority communities, as well as the broader community, benefit from the arena and its’ancillary development. Examples of other cities that have developed community benefits agreements include: Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland and Cleveland. Ralph Hollmon, MUL’s President and CEO, said, “MUL understands that there are some in the community who feel that public funds should not be used for a new arena- especially when considering some of the challenges in our city, which includes high levels of poverty and unemployment, particularly among African Americans males”. Ralph stated that MUL and others work to meet these challenges every day, but in order to address these challenges, we need an economy that can create jobs. In addition, we need an environment where people will want to live and recreate in the city, so we have a tax base to maintain essential services. Therefore, MUL urges our local and state leaders to work together to develop a public/private financing plan that will benefit all residents living in Wisconsin.
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 11
The Milwaukee Community Journal April 15, 2015 Page 12