Author: Editor

Milwaukee celebrated the 75th Anniversary of its Equal Rights Commission (ERC) on October 16 in the rotunda of the historic City Hall, highlighting a mission of inclusivity and the resulting impact of its efforts for the local community. The city’s ERC was created in 1944 during the closing days of World War II. It was originally founded as the Mayor’s Committee on Inter-Racial Relations, by then Milwaukee Mayor John Bohn. The purpose was to form a committee to examine issues with the city’s growing black community, make recommendations on how to improve those issues, and support policies that would...

Forward Latino and UWM MAVRC hosted a special community screening of the Mike Seely documentary “Exiled: America’s Deported Veterans” at the United Community Center on October 8, featuring a talkback session with the director after the film. “Exiled” tells the stories of two US military veterans who were honorably discharged and deported Mexico. As a former paratrooper, Hector Barajas is on a mission to raise awareness about the deported veteran issue, and reunite with his daughter in Compton, California. Army veteran Mauricio Hernandez struggles with severe PTSD as a result of his time fighting in Afghanistan, but in Tijuana,...

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC) held its 13th annual Business Awards Celebration on October 4 at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, recognizing individuals and companies that were “Impacting Our Future” over the past year. The event also featured a bittersweet tribute to honor May Yer Theresa Thao, who resigned as Executive Director of the HWCC on September 8 after being selected by Governor Tony Evers to serve as Assistant Deputy Director for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). In that role, Thao became the first Asian American to serve in an Executive Office position in Wisconsin history....

A new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Center was unveiled at Cass Street School on October 3, thanks to the collaboration between Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), Rockwell Automation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. The STEM Center will provide students with hands-on tools in an environment suited to deliver critical skills needed to solve the complex challenges of our technology-dependent world. Instruction will be based in Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum, which engages and empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills. “Our students need every opportunity to learn cutting edge concepts on relevant,...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on September 30 that the City of Milwaukee has been awarded $5.6 million for lead abatement, to address lead hazards in 320 housing units for low-income families with children between now and April 2023. Mayor Tom Barrett, U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Vice President of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers Rosamaria Martinez, and Commissioner of Health Dr. Jeanette Kowalik held a press conference to announce the federal funding, with State Representatives JoCasta Zamarripa and Kalan Haywood II attending in support. “We should all be proud that since 2004, the number...