Author: Correspondent

In response to a compressive needs assessment they conducted, Cream City Foundation announced recently a grant award to support HIV/STI testing, prevention and treatment services. The funding makes it possible for Holton Street Clinic to imbed a Registered Nurse and a Clinic Assistant two afternoons per week at the Diverse & Resilient office. The program specifically supports efforts to improve the sexual health of African American Men who have sex with men and African American trans women in Milwaukee, services will be available free of charge to anyone in need. “While we’ve made tremendous strides to combat the HIV...

Assembly Bill (AB) 589 would restructure the current system for licensing sign language interpreters to create qualification levels and allow more interpreters to gain employment faster while providing consumer protections. Authored by State Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), Representatives Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee), Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc), and Ken Skowronski (R-Franklin), AB 589 recently received a public hearing in the Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy. “The deaf community has sent a message. They feel that their voice has been silenced. We can’t let that happen,” said Senator Testin. “This bill will help more interpreters enter the job market while...

The Kooky Cooky House, Milwaukee’s own gingerbread-making marvel of the 1960s and 1970s, was recreated and opened as part of the holiday floral show at The Domes. The Kooky Cooky House will be on display through January 1, 2018, while the holiday show will run through January 7. Decades ago, crowds would gather during the holiday season at the Capitol Court open-air shopping mall to see a robot at the controls of Santa’s cookie factory. The process included toy trucks making deliveries, boxing gloves kneading the dough, and rolling pins flattening the dough. A water wheel and a toy...

Stonehouse Water Technologies LLC, an early stage startup developing water purification products for communities, just completed their first funding round ahead of expectations totaling $1.55M. Stonehouse’s patent pending technology provides a unique and modular energy efficient water purification system for residential, commercial, and agricultural properties, all contained in the space the size of a dehumidifier. The final manufactured product, which will be marketed as the WaterPOD 8 (Purification On Demand), will be commercially available in early 2018. “In addition to developing effective, efficient and disruptive technology, we’ve also built a strong team and partnerships that will continuously improve our...

Five female DJs entered the arena for a fierce musical competition on November 17 at the Milwaukee Pride Wom!nz Spot Ladies Represent! DJ Battle and Dance Party at Hot Water Wherehouse. DJ DRiPSweat emerged as the winner, earning herself a coveted time slot at the PrideFest Milwaukee 2018 Dance Pavilion. Runner-up Aurora, the first trans contestant in the DJ Battle, will also receive an opening spot. Over 100 people attended, raising over $1,000 to support local LGBTQ youth via Pathfinders Milwaukee, and also raised awareness for local community partners Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and Community Advocates. Competing DJs included...

A new, first of its kind, poll commissioned by the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber and conducted by Public Policy Polling, shows that a strong majority of Wisconsinites are opposed to discrimination among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in Wisconsin. In the survey conducted earlier this month, 62% of Wisconsinites believe that discrimination against transgender individuals is wrong and should be illegal. “People in Wisconsin believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity” said Jason Rae, President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The survey also found...