Editor, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority makes a big impact on Milwaukee

Posted by Editor | Apr 12, 2017 |

The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority held its 2017 conference for the Central Region in Milwaukee from April 6 to 9, bringing more than two thousand professional women to downtown. The four-day gathering brought more than 2,500 attendees, booking almost 3,000 hotel rooms, and generated an estimated $2.4 million in direct spending for the Cream City. The last time Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) met in Milwaukee was 2004, for its 70th Central Regional Conference. “My experience with being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is that it’s like a family unit, a sisterhood.” said Rayna Andrews, Senior Director of...

Meena Nutbeam: Solving Milwaukee’s high infant mortality

Posted by Editor | Apr 11, 2017 |

As a high school senior in 2014, Meena Nutbeam learned about the infant mortality rate of Milwaukee and felt it was unacceptable. After she saw an article mentioning baby boxes, Nutbeam created a non-profit called Stork & Company as a solution. She partnered with community health organizations to provide new moms with baby boxes, as a way to reduce unsafe sleep situations. | Q&A Q: How did you get involved with Stork & Company of Wisconsin, and what has been its impact in Milwaukee? A: I started at Stork & Company of WI in the summer of 2014, after...

Photo Essay: Every baby needs a safe place to sleep

Posted by Editor | Apr 11, 2017 |

Stork & Company hosted a launch party of its universal baby box program for pregnant, expecting, and new parents on April 8 at the Milwaukee Public Library East Branch.

Lindsay Heights neighborhood efforts win top honors at MANDI Awards

Posted by Editor | Apr 10, 2017 |

The Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (known as the MANDIs) celebrated the “good news” of successful efforts to revitalize neighborhoods and strengthen the community on April 6. From public nominations, a volunteer Selection Committee named 15 finalists for the awards this year, and winners were announced Thursday, April 6, to an audience of 800 community leaders at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. “We really appreciate the opportunity to recognize what’s happening at the ground level. People are working hard to create safe, healthy, vibrant neighborhoods for their community. The MANDIs celebrate these efforts, and offer all of us inspiration...

Milwaukee public gets first look at streetcar rail construction

Posted by Editor | Apr 9, 2017 |

Mayor Tom Barrett was joined by Bradley Tech High Schools students to learn how professionals utilize their specialized education and training for the Milwaukee Streetcar on April 7. Construction crews were in the process of welding steel for the Streetcar line, along a stretch of Milwaukee Street, by the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and Juneau Avenue. The welding was performed by Progress Rail, using special equipment with the assistance of local laborers and operators. “This is the first time the public has been able to see visible signs of the work that we are doing on the Streetcar,”...

Pop culture, people of color, and the Autism Spectrum

Posted by Editor | Apr 7, 2017 |

The 1990s teen melodrama, featuring martial arts and kaiju monsters, recently returned in a motion picture reboot showing a person of color living with autism. The entertainment industry and popular culture play an important role in helping to spread awareness about autism. The rare depictions presented on screen also help bring public acceptance of the condition. Originally based on and using footage from the Japanese tokusatsu (live action) TV show Super Sentai (Sentai is the Japanese word for fighting squadron), the Toei Company’s Power Rangers focused on a diverse group of high school youth in brightly colored armor suits....