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Vol. 32 No. 38 • Thurs., Sept. 26, 2013 - Wed., Oct. 2, 2013 • An NCON Publication Serving The Milwaukee Area • 65¢
African American Chamber of Commerce: ‘City of Milwaukee fails to protect Black business owner’
Staff Photo
African American Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dr. Eve M. Hall convened a press conference on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at City Hall alongside Milwaukee Branch NAACP President James Hall, Jr. to urge the City Clerk Jim Owczarski and Common Council President Willie Hines to “hold off on repealing Chapter 370 for purposes of researching minority participation programs and best practices around the U.S. – particularly the Midwest.” In a statement James Hall said, “The new ordinance makes no significant changes in the operation of the programs or in enforcement of program requirements.” In 2012, Chapter 370 ordinance went into effect to help African American contractors get more city business. These race-based requirements have done little to help contractors since being enacted.
The African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) held a press conference on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 in the Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda. AACC is asking the Common Council to postpone action on a resolution repealing Chapter 370. The chamber is requesting that city officials do research on minority participation program best practices in other cities around the country and particularly in the Midwest. “It is of legal opinion that Ordinance 370 failed to address the sizable disparities that exist in our community, but abolishing the initiative altogether fails to move the City of Milwaukee in the right direction,” Board Chair Stephanie Findley said in a prepared statement issued by the AACC. The City of Milwaukee is over 40 percent African American; 17.3 percent Hispanic; 3.5 percent Asian; 0.8 percent Native American and approximately 3.5 per-
cent “other non-white” races and one of the most impoverished cities in America. It is unconscionable that the City believes it acceptable to return to a race neutral program. Eve Hall, President and CEO of the African-American Chamber said: “Chapter 370 assumes African Americans and other minorities are at parity with the general population as it relates to supplies of goods and services without any analysis of the Commercially Useful Function (CUF) of such firms. In the federal supply and contracting arena, this would fall under 49 CFR 26.55.” Ordinance 370 provided strong protections for the utilization of White women while forcing all women of color to share the limited protections provided by the ordinance with men of the same race – further diluting opportunities for men of color – particularly African American men.
Covenant Sisters hold their annual conference
Covenant Sisters International, a non-denominational fellowship of women held their annual conference in Milwaukee on September 12-14, 2013 at Faith Church located on 78th and Ruby. CSI provides fellowship and worship gatherings, empowerment workshops and women’s health seminars. Pictured are (from) Pastor Sharon Journigan Thompson, North Carolina; Dr. K. B. Matthews, North Carolina; Dr. Maria Seaman, Bermuda; Lady Victoria Brooks, Wisconsin; Pastor Gwen Porter, Illinois; CSI founder Dr. Joyce Thornton, Wisconsin; First Lady Cynthia Maddix, United Kingdom; Dr. Regina Lindsay, California; and Pastor Cecilia Lott, Iowa.
Congratulations Covenant Sisters! Staff Photo
Northwestern Mutual unveils design for downtown office tower
Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske
Northwestern Mutual released on September 25, 2013 the first images of its planned 32-story downtown Milwaukee office tower, which is expected to cost $450 million. The 1.1-million-square-foot building will replace Northwestern Mutual's office at 800 E. Wisconsin Ave. on Milwaukee’s lakefront, which must be demolished due to structural problems. The new building will provide space for 1,100 employees who work at the existing office, plus another 1,900 employees who could be added by 2030. The unveiling was presided over by CEO John Schlifske who said, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create greater efficiency and more employee collaboration, as well as additional energy and excitement for the community.”