Editor, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Fidel Verdin: Guiding TRUE Skool to do the real work while others reinvent a broken wheel

Posted by Editor | Apr 6, 2018 |

Given a politically impactful name by his self-described revolutionary parents, Fidel Verdin uses hip hop and other urban arts to engage Milwaukee’s youth in social justice and personal healing. As the creative force behind TRUE Skool, he seeks to uplift the most vulnerable kids in the community through empowerment and leadership workshops. But for all his program’s success and impact in the lives of the young people it serves, the work done by his organization is often marginalized instead of supported in the same way as the generation of local youth have been discarded by institutional racism. | Q&A...

Robotics Week invades Discovery World with a cornucopia of technology

Posted by Editor | Apr 3, 2018 |

Coinciding with Spring Break for many area schools, Discover World participated in the National Robotics Week by hosting a four day technology festival from March 28 to 31. The week of events featured robots of all shapes, sizes, and uses with a chance to meet their makers. Local FIRST Robotics Teams showcased their engineering skills along with robots built for competition, industry, and entertainment. Robots operated on the promenade all week, along with educational labs that were filled with students. Rockwell Automation sponsored Robotics Week as part of the company’s commitment to developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)...

Norquist and Grunau among RiverWalk leaders celebrating the district’s top global award

Posted by Editor | Mar 30, 2018 |

The Milwaukee RiverWalk celebrated its international award from the Urban Land Institute for global excellence with community leaders and supporters who developed the landmark attraction over the past two decades on March 22 at the Stock House in Schlitz Park. Speakers at the event included Gary Grunau, former Mayor John Norquist, Alyssa Remington, Marsha Sehler, Peter Park, and Mayor Tom Barrett, along with other key members who formed, guided, and implemented the RiverWalk project. The Urban Land Institute Global (ULI) recognized the Milwaukee RiverWalk with its 2017-2018 Global Award of Excellence, a significant international honor considered among the world’s...

A historic conversation on five decades of African American leadership in Milwaukee

Posted by Editor | Mar 27, 2018 |

Near West Side Partners and the Avenues West Association hosted the first ever panel discussion with the four past and present African American Common Council Presidents at the Tripoli Shrine Center on March 22. The only four African American men to hold the presidency of the Milwaukee Common Council sat together for the historic conversation, and shared their memories and views of the public policies that occurred during their term. Ben Johnson (1976 – 1980), Marvin Pratt (2000 – 2004), Willie Hines (2004 – 2014), and current leader since 2016 Ashanti Hamilton talked about their rare view from the...

Messages to NRA shown on signs at “March for Our Lives” in Milwaukee

Posted by Editor | Mar 26, 2018 |

Organizers of the “March for Our Lives” rally in Milwaukee shared their petition

“Power On” exhibit expands Discovery World’s role as regional science center for kids

Posted by Editor | Mar 25, 2018 |

Discovery World and We Energies recently announced details about a new partnership that includes a $2 million We Energies Foundation contribution dedicated to the creation of a new energy experience called “Power On.” In addition to Discovery World’s current phase of massive expansion, the new immersive exhibition will allow visitors to explore the generation and transformation of many different forms of energy and discover how the transformation of energy drives the world. Currently under construction and scheduled to open in October, “Power On” consists of multiple interactive exhibits that enable guests to generate energy and explore some of the...